An FIR was lodged against Tej Pratap, son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, on Friday for coming to Ranchi without the mandatory permission during a lockdown and then leaving without spending 14-days in quarantine as per the state government’s Covid protocol.

Earlier, police lodged an FIR against the owner and manager of a prominent city hotel for providing a room to Tej Pratap, who had come to see his ailing father, in violation of lockdown norms on Thursday.

Tej Pratap visited Ranchi from Patna with a cavalcade of 60 vehicles, comprising his security men and party workers. He came to meet Lalu, serving a jail term after his conviction in fodder scam cases, at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) where he is undergoing treatment for various ailments under police custody.

Speaking briefly to reporters on Thursday, Tej Pratap said he had come to Ranchi to check on his ailing father. However, RJD sources in Ranchi, said he had been summoned by his father to discuss party affairs in view of the coming Bihar elections.

Police have booked Tej Pratap under IPC sections 269/270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 184 (violation of speed limit) and 34 (criminal act by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all).

Officer in-charge of Chutia police station Ravi Thakur said at the behest of the circle officer Prakash Kumar, an FIR was also filed against the owner (he wasn’t named) and manager Dushyant Kumar Samath of Capitol Residency for providing a room (507) to Tej Pratap during a lockdown.

“The FIR was filed late on Thursday night. We will proceed accordingly after further probe,” said Thakur, clarifying that lockdown norms prevent hotels from renting out rooms to anyone.

BJP criticised the Ranchi district administration for making a scapegoat out of the hotel’s owner and manager after having violated lockdown norms.

Party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said, “He (Tej Pratap) came to Ranchi in a cavalcade in the wee hours of Thursday, underwent a Covid-19 test and then forcefully checked into a hotel using his clout. He met Lalu with hordes of supporters in the afternoon, blocking Bariatu Road. Why should a case be slapped only on the poor hotel owner and staffer? Shouldn’t Ranchi police officials, RIMS management and district authorities be pulled up for allowing social distancing norms to be violated? Even he (Tej) should face an FIR for booking a hotel room.”