New Year tragedy: Hotel owner arrested

Chennai, Jan 7 (UNI) Savera Group of Hotels Chairman P V Reddy was today arrested in connection with the collapse of the makeshift dais over a swimming pool in which a person was killed during New Year revelry on December 31.

Police sources said Mr Reddy was later produced before a Magistrate Court which granted him bail.

Contractor Narendra Singh, who had erected the ill-fated stage, Hotel General Manager (Marketing) Anthony Michale and Ravi, working as manager to the Contractor, had already been arrested in connection with the case.

Police have registered cases under Sections 304-A (causing death due to negligence), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt) against the accused.

More than 250 people were dancing and partying on the make-shift stage when it collapsed into the swimming pool beneath killing Sumit Agnihotri, a software professional.

According to police, the hotel had collected Rs 3,000 per head for the new year bash. IT professionals, industrialists and college students were part of the fun-filled evening, before it turned into a tragedy, minutes before ringing in the New year.

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