Several videos from outside the wedding venue show cars and security guards waiting outside the venue on the evening of May 24th.
Rajiv Trivedi, senior IPS official who is director-general of the Police for Telangana Prisons, has vehemently denied any violation at his younger son’s wedding, held in Chandulal Baradari, Old City of Hyderabad on May 24 The evening of May 24th in Old Hyderabad raised several eyebrows as it took place during the lockdown and several top state officials allegedly attended the wedding.
Several videos from outside the venue were circulating on social media. One of the viral videos shows several security guards, police officers, and drivers of officials outside the venue, and another video shows guests leaving the venue. Another video, taken from a higher position next to the house, shows a well-lit venue and some preparation. In another video, a series of crackers can be heard and rockets can be seen in the night sky. According to locals, the entire area was cordoned off and there was a large police presence to make sure no one was around. However, none of the videos captured the crowd at the wedding venue, the Telangana government’s pre-lockdown guidelines only allow 40 people at one wedding.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesman for Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), says when he heard about the wedding, he tried to reach officers at the Kamatipura Police Station but they did not answer his calls. He said: “Police officers are strictly enforcing the lockdown and vehicles are being confiscated and challans are being issued due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. At the same time, a top-class wedding took place in the old town. Senior state officials attended the wedding. Right is the same for everyone. I tried to contact several police officers, but not a single officer answered me. Isn’t the law the same for everyone? “
Speaking to TNM, IPS officer Rajiv Trivedi denied that there had been any violations. In response to our questions, the officer replied, “The location of this wedding and the location in Hyderabad are very important in this case. This was the second wedding in my family of four in two days. There is no such allegation regarding my older son’s wedding, which took place almost 48 hours earlier. ”
“There were only five members of my family from my side at that wedding. My own mother, who lives with me, was not there. No relatives near or far from me attended any of the weddings. It was entirely between my family, the bride’s family and some close friends on site, ”Trivedi added.
The official also mentioned: “The norms in the GO were not violated. The allegations mentioned are false. “
“The majority of those present, including the bride and groom, were given two doses of vaccine much earlier. As the officer in charge, I have successfully brought more than 7000 people to safety under my supervision. I would like to reiterate that the venue, its type, size and location play a big role in this wedding, ”added Trivedi.
When TNM contacted Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar to ask if special permission had been obtained for the wedding, all he said was that he was not attending the wedding. “Whose wedding are you talking about? I did not attend any such wedding. I was busy in a meeting. I will check it out, ”said the Commissioner.
Interestingly, when local reporters Telangana DGP asked Mahender Reddy about the much talked about wedding in the old town, he suddenly evaded the question and left without answering.
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