KTDC bigwigs quizzed on Thekkady boat mishap

Sources say that the probe found KTDC Managing Director K G Mohanlal, eco-tourism Director P P Narayanankutty and mechanical deputy director Manoj Mathew ‘partly’ responsible for the tragedy. Apparently, the trio was part of the technical inspection committee which clears boats before they are deployed in tourist centres. It has been found that the boat ‘Jalakanyaka’ did not possess insurance cover. Interestingly, the probe report appears to be giving a clean chit to the Tourism Department obviously because Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is also in charge of tourism.

Investigations had found that the ill-fated boat had a slant and that the KTDC authorities could not have been unaware of this defect. Even though Mohanlal was being questioned on Thursday, it has not yet been decided whether criminal charges could be framed against him.

The Crime Branch interim investigation report was submitted by Inspector-General of Police Sreelekha to DGP Jacob Punnose on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, boat driver Victor Samuel who received bail in the case claimed in Kochi on Thursday that he was being made a scapegoat for no fault of his.