Panvel (Raigad), Apr 11 (IANS): A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) municipal corporator and 11 other persons were detained in Raigad district of Maharashtra after they were found celebrating a birthday party violating the lockdown norms, police said here on Saturday.

The incident occurred late on Friday night when the detainees converged at the bungalow of local BJP corporator Ajay Bahira.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the premises and took into custody the 11 persons including Bahira, partying with liquor on the bungalow terrace, said Senior Inspector of Panvel Police Station A. K. Landge.

They have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Ajay Bahira

Local politicians have demanded that stringent punitive action be initiated against Bahira, including suspension as a corporator to serve as a deterrent to others.

The latest incident comes just five days after BJP legislator from Wardha, Dadarao Y. Keche celebrated his birthday on April 5 and over 200 people gathered at his home in Arvi.

Videos and pictures of the event went viral with the gathering estimated at more than 200 men and women, seen thronging outside the lawmaker's home where he was reportedly distributing relief material.

The Wardha district authorities took serious note of the incident and slapped a notice on Keche, but the legislator alleged that it was "a conspiracy hatched by his political opponents".