Mumbai Police Bans Drone Flying in the City for 1 Month

Flying of drones over Mumbai has been banned for a month by police in view of security concerns.

Police had yesterday detained an employee of a property website for illegally using a drone to photograph the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a Department of Atomic Energy facility located in a high security zone in Trombay.

Three people were seen using a remote-controlled drone flying at a height of around 55 feet on Monday. The aerial movement of the object was captured on camera by a Professor working in a nearby institute, who informed police.

"This drone was used by an employee of a portal dealing in properties. Two more people had assisted him in surveying the area to upload the photos of the BARC campus," said DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni yesterday.

"To prevent the usage of such devices by anti-social or anti-national elements, which could create problems in the city, a ban has been imposed from July 4 to August 2," said DCP (Operations) Sanjay Barkund Wednesday.

Violation of the law would be punishable under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC, police said.