UP police serves notice on Kanika Kapoor to record her statement

Last month, a first information report (FIR) was filed against singer Kanika Kapoor for alleged negligence after she returned to India from the United Kingdom, resulting in the spread of the deadly COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 disease) pandemic. In this connection, a notice was served on her today by the Uttar Pradesh police. 

The notice has asked Kapoor to visit the Sarojini Nagar police station in Lucknow on Thursday 30 April to record her statement. In case she fails to do so, she could be arrested and produced in court.

“The notice has been served to Kapoor and she has been asked to visit the Sarojini Nagar police station, where an FIR under sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against her on 20 March,” a police officer told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

The FIR was lodged by Lucknow's chief medical officer last month. Kapoor was accused of not getting herself tested despite returning from the UK at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading across the globe. The singer tested positive on 20 March. She was discharged this month after she had overcome the illness and tested negative for the contagion.

Kapoor, in a statement yesterday, has already rubbished such accusations. “There was no advisory on that day [the UK travel advisory was issued only on 18 March] that stated that I needed to quarantine myself. I showed no ill health and so did not quarantine myself,” said a part of her statement.