Chandrapur police seize DJ system blasting 123 decibels during Ganeshotsav procession

Durgapur police in Chandrapur district seized a DJ system that was blaring at an ear splitting volume during a Ganeshotsav procession. The DJ operator has been accused of disturbing public peace by playing music without permission and beyond the permitted sound limit at Kondi Ward No. 6, Urjanagar Neri. Police seized sound equipment worth a total of Rs 13 lakh 50 thousand from the spot, including a Mahindra Supro vehicle. The DJ operator booked in the case has been identified as Aman Gangadhar Gohane, a resident of Babrala (Taluka Mul, District Chandrapur).

According to information received, a Durgapur police station team was on patrol around 7 pm on September 14 when they learnt that a DJ was playing at very high volume during the Ganeshotsav welcoming procession in the Urjanagar Neri area. Police Inspector Shegaokar reached the spot immediately and measured the sound level with a sound level meter, which recorded 105.5 decibels. Police issued a strict warning to the operator in front of witnesses to follow the rules and made an entry in the station diary. However, the operator ignored the police warning and after a while resumed playing the DJ at the same volume, or even louder.

When it became clear that residents were being badly troubled by the DJ's noise, police personnel Bhoyar and police constable Harish Talande returned to the spot with witnesses and a sound meter. This time the reading reached 123.05 decibels, which was extremely dangerous for human ears and far beyond the permitted limit. Police asked for permission to play the DJ, and it emerged that the operator did not hold any authorised licence. Since this was a direct violation of the prohibitory order issued by the Chandrapur Superintendent of Police under the Maharashtra Police Act, police began seizure proceedings in front of two witnesses.

In the action, police seized a Sharp Audio company MT-1201 model amplifier (worth Rs 1 lakh), two speakers and a top (worth Rs 4.5 lakh), a Dynatech company DJ mixer (worth Rs 1 lakh), a 15 KV generator and two par lights (worth Rs 1 lakh), and a Mahindra Supro vehicle (registration MH 34 CQ 3494, worth Rs 6 lakh), amounting to a total of Rs 13 lakh 50 thousand, and deposited the items at the police station. The accused, Aman Gohane, has been booked under Section 223 read with Section 136 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 70 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

The action was carried out by Police Inspector Shegaokar, Police Sub-Inspector Pankaj Wasade, police head constable Bhoyar and police constable Talande, under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopani, Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pramod Chaugule. The police administration has warned that similarly strict action will be taken during the upcoming festivals against those who play DJs without permission and disturb the peace by exceeding sound limits.