3 Men Spend $9,500 On Pet Dog's Birthday, Get Arrested For Flouting COVID Norms

Three people in India were arrested for violating COVID-19 norms after they threw a lavish birthday bash for their pet dog.

The incident took place in Ahmedabad, a city in the western state of Gujarat, on Saturday. Chirag Patel and his brother Urvish Patel had thrown a big party to celebrate their dog’s birthday along with their friend, Divyesh Mehariya. The accused reportedly spent close to $9,500 on the canine’s lavish birthday celebrations, India.com reported.

However, a video of the party that went viral on social media landed them in trouble. In the clip, a group of performers was seen singing and playing instruments as part of the birthday celebrations, and people at the venue were seen roaming around without masks and flouting social distancing norms. Viral photos showed the venue all decked up in hues of pink, blue and white, and covered with posters of the dog. A huge cake was also cut as part of the celebrations.

After the video went viral, a case was registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, following which the trio was arrested.

"Three accused arrested for allegedly flouting COVID19 norms after a video went viral of Chirag alias Dago Patel celebrating his pet dog's birthday, spending approx ₹7 lakh ($9,500), at Madhuvan Green Party Plot in Ahmedabad," the Gujarat police said, Hindustan Times reported.

India is witnessing a surge in COVID cases. The country registered 1,79,723 new cases Sunday, 12.6 percent higher than the figure reported the previous day. On Monday, the Union Ministry of Health also confirmed 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have so far been detected across India. In a bid to curb the spread of rising cases, several states have imposed stringent rules. Gujarat, which logged 5,600 cases Saturday, imposed night curfew in major cities and has ordered that events, such as weddings, can have a maximum 400-person capacity in open and 50 percent of space capacity in closed venues. Only 100 persons are allowed in funerals. Shops, spas, shopping complexes, hotels and restaurants in the state can remain open with 75 percent capacity till 10pm.