BHUBANESWAR: As pressure mounted on the State Government with the opposition clamouring for the head of the Chief Minister, promoter of Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital Dr Manoj Ranjan Nayak, who reportedly had been evading arrest for last two days, surrendered before the police in the wee hours on Thursday.
Nayak, a trustee of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs the private hospital, was latter arrested and taken to an isolated location for interrogation. After a marathon grilling for over 10 hours, he was produced in the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) which rejected his bail plea and granted the Commissionerate police to take him on a two-day remand from Friday. The police had however sought three-day remand.
BHUBANESWAR: On Monday evening, a blaze in the hospital had claimed 21 lives while 105 persons shifted from the health facility are still undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Police sources said Nayak surrendered at Khandagiri police station at about 3.30 am. On Wednesday evening, Commissionerate police had issued look out circular (LOC) against both Nayak and his wife Saswati Das, who is also a trustee, asking them not to leave the country.
Commissioner of Police Y B Khurania said a look out notice was issued against the trustees as a result Nayak surrendered before the police. “We are now looking for his wife and another trustee. We would also bring people responsible for fire safety of the hospital in the purview of the investigation," he informed.
On Wednesday, police had raided office and residence of Nayak and seized important documents. So far five persons have been arrested in connection with the fire mishap. Earlier Medical Superintendent of the hospital Pushparaj Samantasinghar, two electrical engineers Amulya Sahu and Malaya Kumar Sahu and fire safety officer Santosh Das were arrested.
They have been booked under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire and combustible materials) and 34 (common intent) of IPC, Khurania added.
Samantasinghar, admitted in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack on Wednesday after he complained of chest pain soon after his arrest, was released from hospital and produced in the SDJM court, which sent him judicial custody.
DG of Police K B Singh said cops were busy in controlling law and order after the mishap. "Now we will concentrate on investigation part. All aspects will be thoroughly probed. Experts also have visited the place where the fire broke out. They have submitted their reports mentioning possible causes of the blaze,” he said.
The police chief admitted that they have received a letter from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Black Money to cooperate with Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate funding pattern of the group. “The investigating team will also look into financial transactions between the trust and its sister organisations and the trust’s source of funding,” he added.
After the arrest news spread, hundreds of supporters of Nayak and employees of the hospital gheraoed Khandagiri police station and staged agitation demanding his release. Police had a tough time in dispersing the crowd.
Meanwhile, Khurda district administration has served a show cause notice on the management of Institute of Medical Sciences (IMD) and SUM Hospital asking them why should not the private hospital be closed for flouting fire safety protocols. The management has a week time to submit its reply.
The State BJP also filed a complaint against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holding him responsible for the SUM Hospital fire mishap. A delegation of BJP leaders led by Vice President Samir Mohanty lodged the complaint at Capital police station requesting legal action against the CM.
After returning from New Delhi, the CM said five persons, including the promoter have been arrested. “Stringent action would be taken against the persons those who are found guilty,” he told mediapersons.
A statement issued by the hospital management stated that founder president of Siksha O Anusandhan Nayak has assured the local police to extend full cooperation during investigation. "In deep grief for the loss of lives in the mishap, the hospital will continue to serve the people with full dedication as before," the release added.