BHUBANESWAR: As the clamour for action against top management of SUM Hospital grew after Monday’s killer blaze which claimed 21 lives, the Commissionerate of Police on Wednesday issued a look out circular (LOC) against Manoj Ranjan Nayak and his wife Saswati Das, both trustees of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs the private hospital.
Though Nayak and Saswati have not been named in the FIR registered in connection with the case, police said, they were not coming forward to cooperate for investigation.Police Commissioner YB Khurania said, Nayak and his wife were required for investigation but have not cooperated despite communications to the effect. Police teams went to Nayak’s home and office premises on the day but to no avail, he added.
“Given the nature of the case, we have issued the LOC and informed the Ministry of Home Affairs so that necessary intimation is made at all the ports and airports of the country to prevent their exit,” he said.
As Union Health Minister JP Nadda arrived on a stock-taking visit and another victim perished to injuries taking the toll to 21, the State Government came under intense pressure to act against the SUM management. Going by the sources, more members of the management board could be under radar of the police which is yet to name Nayak in the FIR that was registered basing on the report of Fire Officer of Central Range.
Since Nayak does not figure in any of the management board of SUM Hospital - nowhere in the websites of the SOA University does his name feature - the police had to analyse the structure so that culpability can be ascertained.
“We are investigating the role of Nayak and other members of the management of the SUM Hospital. We have secured official document on the management structure and are assessing their culpability basing on which action would be initiated,” he said. So far, four persons have been named and arrested in connection with the fire tragedy including the medical superintendent Pushparaj Samanatsinghar, two engineers and a fire safety officer.
As protestors assembled before the hospital demanding more compensation for kin of the victims and action against those responsible and Nadda echoed the sentiments, trouble for Nayak and his beleaguered hospital compounded.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Black Money directed the Enforcement Directorate to probe financial transaction of the group. The SIT has also asked DG Police KB Singh to ensure that documents and records of the institution are not tampered in any manner.
With one more victim succumbing at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, the toll reached 21. The deceased was identified as Janaki Hui from Balasore. So far, 105 patients have been admitted in various hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
With the BJD Government facing severe flak for the fire mishap which exposed the state of fire safety in healthcare centres, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex gratia of `5 lakh for kin of each person who died in the blaze.
The State Government has also opened a control room to monitor the treatment of fire victims. Additional Director of National Health Mission (NHM) and Joint Director of Medical Education and Training are monitoring the treatment of patients evacuated from SUM Hospital.