Drain death: HC direction to govt

CS told to take measures

Five-year-old Abhishek was washed away after he fell into an open drain at Shamanna Layout on May 31, 2009.

Citizen Action Group, in a PIL had alleged that the Abhishek episode exposed the apathy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials, and sought action against the erring officers. Pointing to some of the statements issued by the authorities after the incident like “all drains cannot be covered,” the petitioner said that such incidents show the indifference of the officials concerned. Prior to the Abhishek episode, Venkateshwarulu, a scooterist was washed away in an open drain.

Clear indiction

This incident, was a clear indiction of negligence of the officers as no measures were taken to close open drains, it said. A division bench comprising Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice V G Sabhahit expressing concern over the matter, observed that such incidents have been recurring even outside the cities and emphasised coordination with the authorities concerned. It directed the chief secretary to formulate guidelines over the matter, based on the petitioner’s representation.


Shastri promises to return money

Vini Vinc Souharda Co-operative Society proprietor Srinivas Shastri has promised to return the money to investors by selling his various properties, revealed Shastri’s advocate M T Nanaiah.

Shastri was released on conditional bail from the Central Prisons here on Monday.
Nanaiah said: “As per the charge sheet, Shastri owes an amount of Rs 203 crore to his investors. He owns 31 acres of land near Hoskote. He has 40 sites near Yelahanka. He has promised to sell all of them to return investors’ money. Moreover, a private firm owes Rs five crore to Shastri.”