Suresh Raina, former Indian player was arrested in raid after at Mumbai club. He along with singer Guru Randhwana and and Bollywood celebrity Sussanne Khan were arrested for violating COVID-19 norms. A total of 34 people were arrested in the raid at the Mumbai club, including seven staff members of the Mumbai club. Bollywood celebrity Sussanne Khan was also arrested in the raid at the club in Andheri. The accused were booked for violating Covid norms after the arrests took place around 3 am. Senior officer of the Sahar police station said singer Guru Randhawa and cricketer Suresh Raina were among those who were arrested and booked for violating the norms. The accused were later released on bail.
Mumbai Police has said 34 people including cricketer Suresh Raina and others were booked under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC and provisions of NMDA. The arrests were made after a raid at Dragonfly pub for keeping the establishment open beyond the permissible time limit and not following Covid norms. Ahead of the New Year, the Maharashtra government has imposed a series of restrictions on public activity in the state and particularly in Mumbai from December 22 to January 5 as a precautionary step. This is the second time in five months that Raina has been in the news for non-cricketing reasons. Raina, who retired from international cricket on August 15 this year, had abruptly left the IPL’s bio-secure bubble in the UAE later that month and returned to India citing personal reasons. While the real reasons for Raina’s return from the IPL remain undisclosed, it is understood that at the time he told the Chennai Super Kings team management that he had apprehensions about staying in a bio-secure bubble – several of the Super Kings contingent had tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of IPL 2020.
Suresh Raina’s management had come up with a statement regarding the same. “Suresh was in Mumbai for a shoot which extended to late hours and was invited by a friend for a quick dinner post the same prior to him taking his flight back to Delhi. He was not aware of the local timings and protocols. Once pointed out, he immediately complied with the procedures laid out by the authorities and regrets the unfortunate and unintentional incident. He always holds rules and laws laid down by governing bodies with the highest regard and will continue to do so in the future as well.” Raina has been named in his state team Uttar Pradesh’s probables for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (India’s domestic T20s), which will be played between January 10 and 31 at various venues across India.