Chhapra school principal sent to judicial custody

Chhapra, Jul 25: Principal of Chhapra school was today produced before a district court here today, which sent her to judicial custody. Under heavy police security, Meena Devi was produced by the police in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Arun Kumar Jha who sent her to 14 day judicial custody.

The principal of Dharmasati Gandaman school where 23 children died after eating poisonous midday meal on Tuesday last was arrested yesterday after remaining at large for eight days and sent to Chhapra jail.

The CJM, while sending her to judicial custody till August 5, also accepted police's request to conduct a polygraph test on her. Saran SP, who is also heading Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Chhapra incident, said the school principal was subjected to rigorous questioning about the tragedy.

She was asked from where the poisonous pesticide organo phosphorous came in the food and her statement has been recorded. He said the principal did not tell the police where she was hiding after the incident on July 16 before her arrest.

Asked if now police would look for her missing husband, who is alleged to be the supplier of the food material, the SP said "we would verify the disclosures of the principal and act accordingly."

Sources close to the arrested Principal said that during interrogation by police she pleaded innocence. The principal of the Dharmasati Gandaman primary school where the tragedy happened has been named in an FIR registered with Mashrakh poice station under IPC 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). A report by Saran Commissioner and DIG was also found her guilty.

PTI