SUM hospital owner Manoj Nayak arrested

Bhubaneswar: SUM hospital owner Manoj Nayak was arrested by Khandagiri police on Thursday after he surrendered before it in connection with the fire mishap at the privately-run hospital which claimed 21 lives on Monday evening.

According to sources, Police has registered cases under Sections 304, 308, 285 and 34 of the IPC against Nayak.

Manoj is being interrogated by police, sources added

Reacting on the development, DGP KB Singh, said, "Manoj Nayak was arrested after he surrendered before the Khandagiri police. He will be forwarded to court after completion of the interrogation."

"Police will take him on remand for further interrogation. Besides, police will also grill  Saswati Das, wife of Nayak. She is likely to be arrested if found guilty," Singh added.

Talking on the financial transaction of the SUM Hospital, the DGP, said, "We will also grill the three trustees of the hospital about the financial transactions."

Police commissioner YB Khurania, said, "Police is interrogating Manoj Nayak after his arrest. We will record the statements of all the trustees of the hospital soon.”

“With the arrest of Nayak, the number of arrested persons reached 5 today and the count is likely to increase,” Khurania added.

On Wednesday, the Commissionerate Police issued a look out notice against Manoj Nayak and his wife Saswati Das, both of whom are the trustees of the Shiksha O’ Anusandhan Charitable Trust.

Also read: SUM hospital owner likely to be arrested: DMET

The circular has been issued to prevent Manoj and his wife from moving out of country. Moreover, a letter has also been sent to the Union Home ministry in this regard.

Also read: Lookout circular issued to nab SUM hospital owner Manoj Nayak

Besides, police had raided the office of Manoj yesterday and seized important documents. However, during the raid on his house at Dharma Vihar, police found the house locked and the mobile phone of Manoj switched off.

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Sources in the commissionerate police said special plans have been made for investigation on the basis of seizure of important documents. Besides, investigation is on into the work and role of the some officials of SUM Hospital. Going by the sequence of events and the preliminary investigation, the number of arrests could increase, the sources added.