MUMBAI: Mumbai police has rounded up 13 couples and 35 others following raids at hotels and a beach here for indecent behaviour in public, provoking a storm in the social media which asked why consenting adults cannot stay together.
Consenting adults who checked into several hotels in Madh Island and Aksa area were in for a shock when they found policemen knocking on the doors of their rooms and rounding them up.
The arrests were made after raids were carried out by a team of police officials led by DCP Vikram Deshpande at several lodges, resorts, two-star hotels and on the beaches, police said.
Of those arrested, 13 were couples, 35 were caught for consuming alochol in public.
In addition, police nabbed three women on charges of immoral trafficking and sent them to shelter home.
All the people were arrested from Madh Island and Aksa beach in western suburbs, said police.
Under the Maharashtra Police Act, which was earlier known as Bombay Police Act, or Local Act Case (LAC), the station house officer can let the accused go after taking the fine from them with an undertaking that they will appear before the local magistrate when required. their say.
The raids were conducted at around 3 PM and all those arrested were brought to the police station at around 5 PM. and booked under the Maharashtra Police Act.
"The 61 people were let off by taking a deposit of Rs 1200 from each with an undertaking that they will appear before the local magistrate when required," said Milind Khetle, senior inspector of Malwani police station.
The police rounded up some couples from hotel rooms in Madh Island on August 6, DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni said.
"Some people found in guest houses were allowed to go after enquiries," said Kulkarni.
Three cases were also registered under the Prevention of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, police said.
Parents of some college students who were held were also called to the police station, they added.
Social media responded angrily asking, "How can conduct in a private room by two consenting adults be a public offence? Police has gone too far, needs counselling." "The BJP version of women's safety and women's rights. No surprises at all," commented Mitali Saran on Twitter.
What wrong have I done, asked a 21 year-old woman who was arrested with her companion. She alleged that a female constable slapped her when she questioned the action and refused to pay fine.
"Shocked appalled that #Mumbai police think #sex between consenting adults in a hotel is a crime! What next raids in our houses?" a tweet read.
"This police-state nonsense is going mad! How can it be 'public indecency' if they were in hotel rooms?" another tweet said.