SUM Hosp fire: Odisha police grill two trustees

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 28:

The Twin City Commissionerate police yesterday grilled Saswati Das and Arati Ranjana Nayak, both trustees of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital where a fire mishap on October 17 has claimed 31 lives till date.

They were questioned at the trust office here last night, sources said.

“SUM Hospital is functioning as per UGC guidelines. We are not directly involved in the management of the hospital,” they said.

On October 27, local police had summoned the duo to appear before it in a week’s time. However, they failed to make themselves available for questioning. Following this, lookout circulars were issued against them.

The Orissa High Court had granted anticipatory bails to both on November 24.

While Saswati Das is the wife of owner of SUM Hospital Manoj Nayak, Arati Ranjana Nayak is the sister of the latter.

Earlier, Manoj Nayak – one of the trustees – was arrested and subsequently released from Jharpada Special Jail here on bail.