Booked For COVID Norms Violation, Odisha Legislator Accepts Mistake & Apologises

Bhubaneswar: A day after being booked for attending MLA Pradeep Maharathy’s funeral despite being coronavirus positive, BJD MLA Uma Samantaray on Saturday tendered an apology for his mistake for flouting the COVID-19 protocols.

“The MLA’s death came as a shock and I could not control my emotions and reached Puri Swargadwar to attend his funeral on October 4. No one is above the law and I am ready to accept whatever legal action is taken against me for violating COVID-19 norms,” the legislator said in a video.

Notably, Samantaray on September 28 had tweeted that he had tested positive for the virus.

On Friday, the Sea Beach police had registered a case against the MLA under Sections 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and under section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act.

Also Read: ‘COVID-19 Positive’ BJD MLA Booked, No Case Against Odisha Minister For Flouting Norms