New Delhi: A case has been registered against a 50-year-old Mexican national for allegedly flying a drone near India Gate without permission on Oct 2, when security across the capital had been heightened due to multiple protests and demonstrations.Police said a constable deployed near India Gate Circle spotted a drone in the area around 7.40 am and traced its operator to Stretch-2 on Kartavya Path. The man was found in possession of the drone’s remote controller.According to police, the constable informed him that flying drones in the area was prohibited because of security concerns, given the movement of constitutional authorities, VVIPs, senior govt officials and other dignitaries in the vicinity. The man was directed to land the drone, which he did.Police identified him as a resident of Mexico City and took him to the police station along with the drone and its controller.An FIR states that the drone was flown in a prohibited area without written permission, allegedly in violation of an order issued by police on Aug 20. The drone was seized and a case registered under Section 223(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant.During questioning, the man told police that he was a tourist and was unaware of the restrictions.The incident comes weeks after a 23-year-old freelance videographer was booked for allegedly flying a drone near The Imperial Hotel on Janpath during the Brics summit, when Delhi had been declared a temporary red zone due to VVIP security arrangements.
