Hyderabad: A senior IPS officer serving in Telangana landed in the soup this week after widespread allegations that he conducted his son’s wedding and violated lockdown restrictions.
Rajiv Trivedi, police director general for prisons, hosted his son’s wedding on Monday evening in Chandulal Baradari, Hyderabad’s old town. The wedding raised eyebrows as it only happened during the lockdown when multiple restrictions were in place, but also due to allegations allegedly attended by several senior state officials.
The venue falls under the boundaries of the Kamatipura Police Station.
Also, the event took place in a great way with an orchestra, band and fireworks. It lasted late into the night, several reports mentioned.
Several videos were shared on social media from outside the venue capturing the fireworks, several guests, as well as personal staff and the safety of the wedding venue.
The official spokesman for Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), Amjed Ullah Khan, also shared some videos from the event. In a report by The News Minute, Khan said that when he heard about the wedding, he tried to reach officers from the Kamatipura Police Station but they did not respond to his calls.
“Isn’t the law the same for everyone?” he asked.
Itar @ perfume factory owner Dubey’s daughter marriage next to the Savera event hall in Kamatipura ps boundaries with burning crackers breaking #lockdown rules in the old town. Mr @TelanganaDGP & @CPHydCity I am sure no action will be taken on this as the law for poor does not apply to VIPs. pic.twitter.com/aP0nKIKH3r
– Amjed Ullah Khan MBT (@amjedmbt) May 25, 2021
In the meantime, Kamatipura police said they had not booked a case relating to a violation of the lockdown rules. “We are investigating the problem and will act accordingly,” said G. Rambabu, the Cl of the Kamatipura Police Station, as quoted by News Meter.
IPS officer denies charges
But even though the pictures and videos caused quite a stir on social media, Rajiv Trivedi denied the charges. “The standards in the GO were not violated. The allegations made are false, ”Trivedi said, as quoted by TNM in a report.
He went on to say that only five members of his family attended the wedding and that the majority of those in attendance, including the bride and groom, had received two doses of vaccine much earlier.
Trivedi also said that he also conducted his older son’s wedding two days earlier, but no allegations were made regarding this.
However, when the local media asked DGP Mahender Reddy about this wedding and he was present, he suddenly evaded the question and walked away without answering.
