Chandrapur police seize DJ equipment worth Rs 26 lakh over noise norms at Ganesh processions

Mul police station in Chandrapur district carried out a crackdown on DJ operators playing music at excessive volume in violation of rules during security arrangements for Ganesh immersion processions. In separate actions at Alewahi and Navegaon Alewahi, sound level meter checks found that noise levels exceeded the prescribed limit. Between the two actions, sound systems, generators and two vehicles worth a total of Rs 26,10,000 were seized, and six people were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and police acts.

According to information received, while Assistant Police Inspector Suresh Kannake and a police team were patrolling the Alewahi and Navegaon area during the immersion procession bandobast, they received information that a DJ was being played without permission and at a volume above the permitted limit. They then went to the spot along with witnesses and checked the sound level using a sound meter, which found the noise level exceeded the norms.

The first action took place at the procession of Jai Valmiki Ganesh Mandal in Alewahi. A sound system fitted on a Tata LPT vehicle (registration MH-36 AA-4191) was playing a DJ at a volume of 77.03 decibels. During questioning, DJ owner and operator Rohit Yuvraj Yelmule (25, resident of Sindpuri, Pauni taluka, Bhandara district) said he was playing the DJ on the instructions of the mandal organisers and that no permission had been taken for it. Vehicle driver Bhaskar Pralhad Dhore (25, resident of Etan, Bhandara district), organiser Suraj Raju Marbate (28, resident of Alewahi) and Rohit Yelmule were booked, and property worth Rs 15,80,000 was seized in this case.

The second action took place at the procession of Ujwal Jyot Ganesh Mandal in Navegaon Alewahi. A DJ sound system fitted on a Tata 709 pickup vehicle (registration MH-01 BR-2461) was playing music at 73.50 decibels. In this case, DJ owner Gangadhar Sukhdeo Borkar (42, resident of Tekri, Sindewahi taluka), vehicle driver Roshan Gajanan Tikle (21, resident of Saimara, Sawali taluka) and organiser Vaibhav Dharmarao Talande (22, resident of Navegaon Alewahi) were booked, and property worth Rs 10,30,000 was seized.

Together, the two actions saw police seize DJ audio machines, speaker boxes, taps, mixers, generators, power savers and two vehicles, worth a total of Rs 26,10,000. Action against the accused has been taken under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 38 and 136 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The action was carried out under the guidance of Chandrapur Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopani, Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Satyajit Amale and Police Inspector Vijay Rathod, by Assistant Police Inspector Suresh Kannake along with police personnel Uttam Kumre, Naresh Kodape, Narendra Wakde, Dilip Aade, Shankar Borsare, Prakash Chikram, Ganesh Aade and Arvind Meshram. Mul police station has appealed to the public to observe noise limits so that upcoming festivals pass off peacefully.