A 29-year old man was arrested for flying an unmanned drone without authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Chennai police.
Raj of Foreshore Estate kept policemen on their toes after his drone, fitted with cameras, fell on the roof of a service apartment in M.R.C. Nagar, on Tuesday evening. The equipment was spotted by two foreigners, who brought it to the attention of the building security officer.
A police complaint was filed and a case was registered under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 336 of the IPC Act (endangering the life or personal safety of others). Enquiries revealed the drone was purchased by Raj from Mumbai to take aerial footage of a church function in Velachery.
“He was conducting a trial when the machine went beyond the range of the remote control and landed on top of the apartment,” said Chennai city police commissioner S. George. He warned the machines, which weigh between two kg and 10 kg, can endanger the lives of people. “If it had fallen on people, they could have been injured,” he said.
Such devices, fitted with cameras, may prove to be an intrusion of privacy. “Though people purchase it for recreational purposes, it can pose a serious security threat,” Mr. George said.
The DGCA is in the process of formulating regulations for certification and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
“A DGCA notification states till such regulations are issued no non-governmental agency, organisation or individual must launch a UAS in Indian civil airspace for any purpose,” said Mr. George.
Permission from DGCA apart, people have to get a no-objection certificate from the city police to fly them. “We will tell them where they can fly the drones,” said V. Balakrishnan, deputy commissioner of Mylapore.
