Legal action will be taken against the organisers of "Miss Grand Samut Sakhon" beauty contest for violating communicable disease restrictions, according to the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
A cluster of 22 infections has emerged from the event which took place during June 26-27 at Mirin Theatre RCA in the district, among them Pornchanok Srikaeo, winner of the event.
The Huai Kwang district office in Bangkok filed a complaint against the organisers on Friday with Makkasan police.
It accused the organisers of failing to comply with the Covid-19 control measures and the plan they had earlier submitted to the authorities.
Many contestants and members of the organising committee did not wear face masks at all times as required and the two-day event has now emerged as a new cluster with 13 contestants and nine others found to be infected.
Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner, said even though the organisers had sought the district office's permission to hold the event, they face charges for violating the health safety protocols they were compelled to adhere to.
"All those responsible face legal action," replied Pol Maj Gen Piya when asked if TV host and founder of Miss Grand beauty contest Nawat Itsaragrisil would also be investigated.
Mr Nawat, who is being treated for Covid-19, also joined in the event in which 100 people took part.
One beauty contestant wrote on social media that the contestants were told to remove their face-masks and take part in activities without proper social distancing.
She said no contestants wanted to take part, but they were threatened with a 60,000-baht fine if they pulled out, even though the fine stipulated in the contract was just 5,000 baht.
Moreover, the organisers also failed to inform the participants that several contestants had contracted the virus, raising fears the cluster could lead to wider transmission.