82 youths rounded up in Nagpur moral policing

"We had received complaints that some school and college-going students bunk their classes and indulge in indecent behaviour in the garden. We took action under Sections 110 and 117 of the Bombay Police Act, pertaining to obscene behaviour in public places, and caught 82 youngsters who were there in the park at that time," Gavai told The Indian Express.

After questioning, the police could slap the Sections only against five couples. The rest of the girls and boys, however, were released only after their family members identified them. "Some of the girls and boys were shouted down and made to sit on the floor. The girls were asked to remove the scarves they were wearing to hide their faces from media glare. One or two of them were even slapped," an eyewitness told The Indian Express. "The ACP reached the place leisurely after two hours," he added. Gavai, however, denied the charge.

The Botanical Garden is managed by the Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth. Garden's project officer Vijay Golliwar told The Indian Express: "People enter the garden after buying tickets. Our guards keep a watch on them. Anyone found indulging in indecent act is immediately caught and fined."