KOLKATA: Relatives and family members of revellers who were arrested on Sunday from a five-star hotel on Park Street for allegedly violating Covid related restrictions said they have learnt a lesson and would not repeat the mistake in future.
“We didn’t mean to get involved in any criminal activity or malpractice. We simply wanted to enjoy some time with friends and family. In our excitement we violated the Covid restrictions and we are apologetic. None in our family has ever been arrested, but my husband was put behind bars, had to hide his face like a criminal and was made to appear in court with a group of alleged thieves. The incident has left a deep impact on our mental health. We have learnt a lesson and won’t be partying or violating any other Covid restrictions in future,” said wife of one of the 37 arrested men.
The woman was also with the husband and nine others attending a birthday party at a nightclub at the star hotel. She had alleged, once the bar had closed at 8pm, the hotel authorities had given them an option to buy a bottle and order some food and they would be given a room for free to party till late in the night.
A special team of officers from Kolkata Police detective department had raided the hotel around 1.15am acting on a tip off. Among those arrested was a young Behala resident, who was allegedly involved in a scuffle, while trying to secure the seized cellphone of his friend. He has been charged with a stringent non bailable section of IPC 353 and was put in police custody with eight others. They would be produced before the court again on Friday.
“Stuck at home for weeks we had planned a get together with friends. We are not criminals. My friend, who is behind bars is a teacher and was trying to get my cellphone which was seized when I was making a video of the raid. We were not even partying on the corridor. We were sitting in a room allotted to us by the hotel and drinking. It was a lesson learnt. We will avoid any further late night meet ups,” said one who was present at the hotel during the police raid.
