Two Santa Cruz residents seek anticipatory bail after police file a criminal case against them.
Playing loud music is no sound business. It can land you in trouble – in fact, deep troubIe. As per Section 15 (1) of the Environment Protection Act, it can set you back by Rs 1 lakh and even land you in jail for five years. It doesn't matter whether you are doing so during daytime or at your own place.
Ask Santa Cruz residents Chhaya Ojha (60) and Veena Upadhyay (68). When the Meera Baug colony residents decided to have some fun recently, it was not music to the ears of all and sundry.
A complaint was filed against the two, and, soon, cops were at the senior citizens' doors. Their music system was seized.
However, it didn't deter the music-loving duo. "Even after the police seized the music system, the accused continued playing music. When the police measured the noise level, it came up to 92.5 decibels. Hence, a criminal case was registered against the two women," says the complainant copy.
The two have now approached the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail. The court is yet to decide on the case.
Dr Mahesh Bedekar, activist, who has filed a PIL against noise pollution, welcomed the move and claimed that this could be the first-of-its-kind. "There are when several cases have been registered against many organisations for causing noise pollution during festival season, but registering a case against specific individuals could be for the first time. We need to understand that every one has a right to live in peace and disturbing your society and environment, at large, is something which is criminal.
"Not that I am against celebrations, but one can do it just to soothe oneself and not to disturb others. This act of police might make others think twice before blowing off others' ears," he said.
Anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali agreed that it is a rare case. "Earlier, when people were charged under the Bombay Police Act, it was easy to walk away from the police station after paying a fine. But this action is going to be a strong deterrent," she said.
Shantanu Pawar, senior police inspector, Santa Cruz police station, said: "We received a complaint and we initially visited the place and seized the music system. But we registered a criminal case when they continued playing music."
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