Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital owner Manoj Ranjan Nayak’s wife Saswati Das and sister Arati Ranjana Nayak, both trustees of the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs the hospital on Thursday failed to turn up before the police here in connection with the SUM Hospital fire tragedy that killed 29 persons last month.
The duo cited illness as the reason for their failure to appear before the investigation officer at the Khandagiri police station. It was, however, stated that they would appear before the police on Friday.
Unable to get cooperation of the duo in the investigation process despite its repeated appeals, the Commissionerate police had issued summons to Saswati and Arati on October 27 to appear before it within seven days. Earlier, the police had issued a lookout Circular against Saswati and Manoj to prevent them from fleeing abroad.
Notably, following Manoj’s arrest after his surrender to the police on November 20, both Saswati and Arati apprehending arrest had moved the Orissa High Court on October 26 seeking anticipatory bail. The court is yet to take up the plea.
