BHUBANESWAR: The State BJP on Thursday filed a complaint against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holding him responsible for the SUM Hospital fire mishap that claimed 21 lives.
A delegation of BJP leaders led by State Vice President Samir Mohanty lodged the complaint with Capital police station requesting legal action against the CM for allowing the hospital to run despite several discrepancies.
Directly holding the Chief Minister responsible for the fire mishap and other developments after the incident, complainant Mohanty said the hospital had flouted fire safety protocols and it was allowed to function without fire safety certificate.
“Since Chief Minster holds the Home portfolio and police and fire services come under his department, he should be held responsible for the inaction of officials that led to such a tragic mishap,” he said and demanded police action.
Zone-1 Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Asim Panda confirmed that a complaint had been received by the Capital police. "It is being looked into," he said.
Meanwhile, BJP activists took out a rally from the State party office and staged a protest meeting at Master Canteen Square demanding resignation of Chief Minister and sacking of Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
BJD spokesperson Sashibhusan Behera rubbished allegations against the CM. He said BJP is doing politics by dragging the name of Chief Minister and Health Minister into it. “A probe by RDC (central range) is on and action would be initiated against the officials who are found guilty,” Behera added.
On the other hand, Medical Superintendent of SUM Hospital Dr Pushparaj Samantasinghar, who was admitted in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack on Wednesday after he complained of chest pain soon after his arrest in connection with the fire mishap, was released from hospital on Thursday. He was produced at the SDJM court earlier today.
He was later taken to Khandagiri police station. Police sources said he would be produced in the court shortly. Two days back, three employees, including two engineers and fire safety officer of the hospital were produced in the court.
Earlier on the day, Dr Manoj Ranjan Nayak, trustee of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs SUM Hospital had surrendered at Khandagiri police station. He was later arrested and taken to an isolated location for interrogation.
The arrests were made on the basis of the complaint lodged by Central Range fire officer B B Das. They have been booked under sections of 304, 308, 285 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).