Mumbai: Over 100 booked for violating SC's Diwali guidelines

The Mumbai Police has booked over 100 people for violating the Supreme Court-prescribed guidelines regarding burning firecrackers during Diwali celebrations this year while lodging at least 53 cases against illegal firecracker vendors.

In a statement, the Mumbai Police PRO said, "During Diwali this year, Mumbai Police has registered 53 cases on firecracker sellers and over 100 cases were registered on people violating prescribed guidelines of Supreme Court on burning of firecrackers."

Most vendors were booked for selling crackers without license while cases were registered against people for violating the Supreme Court's time frame to burn fireworks. The apex court had directed crackers to be burnt only between 8 PM and 10 PM. The cases were registered between November 5 and November 8.

The situation was much worse in the national capital during Diwali this year as the Delhi Police seized over 2500 kg of banned firecrackers and arrested 15 people in this regard. The seizures were made between November 1 and November 4.

Also, 31 people were arrested and over 600 kilogram of fireworks were seized by the Delhi Police on Diwali day.

On October 23, the top court, in its guidelines, directed that only firecrackers with reduced emission (improved crackers) and green crackers and Safe Water and Air Sprinklers (SWAS) were to be manufactured and sold.