Bihar: Absconding principal files anticipatory bail in court

Chappra, July 24: School principal Meena Devi, wanted by the police for the midday meal tragedy in Bihar's Saran district which left 23 children dead, today filed an anticipatory bail application in the district court here.

Criminal lawyer Bhola Rai filed the anticipatory bail application in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on behalf of the principal of the state-run Dharmasati Gandaman primary school in Mashrakh block, about 50 km from Chhapra. Rai, who had served as election agent of RJD President Lalu Prasad, said the matter would come up tomorrow.

The anticipatory bail was sought after the police pasted a notice at her house declaring her as a proclaimed offender. The notice asked the principal to present herself before the police immediately failing which the process of attachment of her property would start.

An FIR has been registered in the Mashrakh police station against Meena Devi who has been absconding with her husband, Arjun Rai, since July 16 when the school children died after eating a contaminated midday meal.

An FIR was earlier lodged on the complaint of parents of the children under section 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. A report submitted to the government by Saran Commissioner S S Sharma and DIG Vinod Kumar has found her responsible for the tragedy. She has been suspended by the government and process for her termination from service is on.

Education minister P K Shahi has alleged that the principal used to buy contaminated food items from shop of her grocer husband. He had also alleged that she had forced the students to finish the midday meal on the day when even after they complained of a foul smell in the food served to them.

PTI