According to state BJP Vice-President Kirit Somaiya, they were allegedly given VVIP passes by the Maharashtra government to travel from Khandala (Pune) to Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in a convoy of private vehicles.

 

"I have urged the Maharashtra Governor to order an investigation into the matter," Somaiya said here on Thursday evening.

 

Though home department officials remained incommunicado to comment on the issue, the Wadhawans and their family members -- totaling to some 23 persons -- have been shunted to an unidentified quarantine facility as a precaution in view of the ongoing 21-day lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

 

At the height of the nationwide lockdown, eyebrows are raised how they managed to cross the two districts between Pune and Satara, several toll plazas and police checkposts virtually unhindered, when commoners and migrants have been stranded all over the country.

 

A purported permission, in the form of a 'To Whomsoever It May Concern' letter issued by the Home Department's Principal Secretary (Special), Amitabh Gupta (IPS), dated April 8 (Wednesday), has allowed them the green signal to travel from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar.

 

"This is to just inform you that the following are well-known to me as they are my family friends and travelling from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar for family emergency. Hence you are here by informed through this letter to co-operate with them to reach their destination," said the purported written clearance ostensibly sanctioned by the senior official.

 

It goes onto list the registration numbers of all the five vehicles and the names of all the family members, friends and others travelling in each of the vehicles for the �family emergency'.