Lockdown violation: Case to continue even after seized vehicles are returned
Though the police will give back the vehicles that was seized for violating lockdown norms, the owners will have to face legal action. Cases are charged as per IPC Act, Kerala Police Act and Epidemic Diseases Act. The offenders may be awarded imprisonment ranging from one month to three years.
The police have seized a total of 23,000 vehicles since the lockdown was imposed. Initially, the seized vehicles were kept on the police station compound. But later when the numbers increased, the police started looking for other ways.
How to get back vehicles
From Monday onwards, the owners can get back their vehicles when the police officers inform them to arrive at the station. The owner should submit an affidavit before the concerned officer at the station.
The vehicles will be given back on a condition that it will be produced before the police whenever demanded. The vehicles will be returned in the order of when they were seized.
Sections and punishments
- IPC 188 - According to this section, offender may be awarded imprisonment of one month and/or a fine. If another person was infected when the offender disobeyed the police order, he may get a jail term of six months.
- IPC 269 - The offender may be awarded imprisonment of six months and/or a fine.
- Kerala Police Act 118 (E) - The offender may be awarded imprisonment upto three years and/or a fine upto Rs 10,000.
- Kerala Epidemics Diseases Act 4 (2) (F), 5 - If the restriction imposed as per collector's order is violated, the offender may get imprisonment upto two years and/or a fine upto Rs 10,000.
Repeated offenders to be in trouble
The police also hinted that if the released vehicles are seized again for repeated offence, the sections and cases will be stronger. Now only bailable offences are charged. In case of repeated offences, non-bailable cases will be charged and stricter action will be taken against them.