TN: Saravana Stores owners seek anticipatory bail

Chennai, Sep 5: Partners of Saravana Stores, which witnessed a major fire claiming lives of two people on Monday, have approached Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

They have been accused of committing offences punishable under Section 304-A (care and negligent act leading to death) and 506-ii (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

There were commotion in the court on Monday, when counsel for the petitioners Rajarathinam and Yogarathinam, claimed that Justice R Regupathi had granted them bail. However, after a while, the government advocate mentioned the matter to the judge and sought time to file the counter.

The judge adjourned the matter to September five to enable the prosecution to file its counter.

In their petition, Saravana Stores owners said they belonged to a respectable family and were ready to comply with any condition laid down by the court.

The fire, which ravaged three floors of the stores, building on September one, claimed the lives of two workers.

Police investigations were on and the chargesheet was expected to be filed soon.

Meanwhile, The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the State Public Works Department (PWD) authorities have decided to order thedemolishing the unauthorised construction of the building by the owners.

UNI