After dodging the mandatory quarantine rules placed for the returnees of Europe, Gulf and South African countries, brothers Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan along with the former’s son Nirvaan Khan have been put under isolation in Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai today.
The news came a day following the registration of an FIR by a medical officer who claimed that the trio had skipped the quarantine and chose to go home from the airport after landing from Dubai on December 25th.
In the police complaint lodged against them, the BMC stated that the three broke the covid protocols set for international flyers by stepping out of the airport to reach home, rather than the 5-star hotel they had earlier alleged to stay in.
The actors had told officials that they will be isolating themselves in a hotel for completing the norms but instead drove off straight to Salman Khan’s birthday bash in his Panvel farmhouse, which was on December 26th.
“Arbaaz and Sohail cancelled their institutional quarantine on December 26 and went straight for Salman’s birthday celebration. There is a possibility that those who attended Salman’s party will be asked to check themselves for symptoms,” a source said.
Post knowing about the incident, a medical officer booked the trio in Khar police station under sections 188 and 269 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 188 under 3 provides punishments for disobeying an order sentenced by a public servant while Section 269 penalizes and gives imprisonment to those whose actions are likely to spread any infection or disease dangerous to life.
Previously, the youngest Khan brother, Sohail, had informed authorities that they left the airport to go home as their RT-PCR tests proved them to be negative for covid-19. However, enquiries are underway to find how the three skipped the isolation and went their way without attaining the permission of any official. There are speculations that the VIP treatment bestowed upon them was due to their celebrity status.
According to officials, they will also be speaking to the family and friends of the actors in order to learn if any has symptoms related to the disease. They added that none of the three booked have any symptoms.
Nevertheless, they will be tested again after 7 days of their isolation period. A source close to the investigation process of the case said, “Arbaaz, Sohail, and his son have been sent to quarantine for seven days. A high-level inquiry has been initiated into the matter. After a gap of seven days, all three of them will have to undergo an RT-PCR test again.”
The eldest of the clan, Salim Khan, confirmed that his sons have been put under quarantine. “I don’t have much details, all I know is that they are under quarantine at the hotel at the moment,” he said.
The government placed mandatory quarantine rules for individuals returning from or via the countries that have reported the presence of the UK strain of the virus, beginning December 22nd. All the passengers are required to stay for 7 days under isolation post which they will be sent home if found negative for the test. A week’s home-quarantine must also be fulfilled after this even though they are found negative.
