New Delhi, Jun 9 (IANS): After west Delhi's popular Qubitos reopened on Tuesday after being shut for almost three months, the restaurant landed in trouble as 38 persons were arrested for celebrating a birthday party while allegedly violating all social distancing norms.

"While a total of 38 persons were apprehended, four people including the owner of the restaurant were found responsible for the offence and hence, were arrested but were released on bail later," the police said adding that ‘hookahs' were also being served during the party.

The four accused who were arrested are - Akshay Chhadha (owner of the restaurant), manager Manoj Kapoor, party organiser Manaan Majid and Mohd Asif.

"Keeping in view the sensitivity of COVID-19, our team was on area patrolling and when the patrolling team reached near Qubitos Restaurant, some unwanted movement was observed by the team and surprise checking was done at Qubitos Restaurant and it was found that a party having 38 persons was going on and hookah was also being served at the restaurant," said a senior police official.

"The said four men were held responsible for not following the norms of lockdown and social distancing. A case was registered at Rajouri Garden police station under section 188 (disobeying orders by public servants) and various other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTP) Act," he added.