MP official flouts lockdown, travels 500 km in govt vehicle to bring back family from Indore

A Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) posted in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh travelled 500 km in his official vehicle to bring back his family despite the complete lockdown imposed in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Collector’s officer has confirmed that he travelled to Indore without any prior permission.

SDM RS Solanki travelled to Indore on Thursday in his official vehicle and brought his family stranded in Indore since the lockdown without conducting screening. Indore, which has second highest positive cases in the country, is under a complete lock down and no one is allowed to go in and out.

Not only this, Solanki even helped friends to get back to their respective houses from Indore. He did all this without informing the administration. He ensured that neither he nor his acquaintances went through mandatory screening, claimed locals.

When contacted, SDM Solanki said, "All precautions were taken while travelling from Indore. All of us are healthy now". The officer also claimed that the Collector was informed about the travel. However, Manasa Tehsil Health Officer Dr Nirupa Jha said, “No medical examination of the SDM’s family has been undertaken.”

Irked with the incident, locals have demanded action against the SDM for flouting the rules in such a blatant manner. "Had a common man travelled likewise without informing, the administration would have initiated strict action against him," said a local.

"A senior government official is flouting the law, so the administration has gone mum on the entire incident," said another local on condition of anonymity.

When contacted, district Collector Jitendra Singh Raje confirmed that the SDM had visited Indore and said that the journey was undertaken to bring his family back. "The entire family was kept in home quarantine as soon as we came to know about it," he said.

On SDM's claim that there was no need for him to undergo screening as he had followed every precautionary measure, the Collector said, "Screening is done at border check post as a precautionary measure. He should have got himself screened there." On being informed about one more person travelling with the SDM's family, the Collector said that he would look into the matter if evidence is put before him.