Athawale, who is the Minister of State for Social Justice, is in Mumbai at present since March 24 lockdown. Athawale, who is the Minister of State for Social Justice, is in Mumbai at present since March 24 lockdown.

A DRIVER in the security detail of a Union Minister tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. Officials said the driver, who was suffering from fever and throat infection, was on sick leave since April 5. However, after he underwent a test on April 18, his results were found to be positive.

A senior police officer said after they learned that a driver had tested positive, three other police personnel, who were part of the convoy and rode in the vehicle driven by the infected person, were asked to go into home quarantine.

“When we inquired with him, he said he doesn’t remember if he came in contact with anyone who has tested positive,” an officer said.

Since the day the lockdown was announced, the minister has been living in his Bandra residence. “Till April 5, they would just go to his residence and sit downstairs as none of the VIPs have been stepping out since the lockdown was announced. Besides, the driver never went close to the minister,” a senior officer said.

The driver stays in Kharghar and he had sent his family members to his native place before the lockdown was declared. He has been admitted to a hospital in Panvel.

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