Founder and owner of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital (IMSSH) Manoj Ranjan Nayak was sent to the Jharpada Special Jail here on Sunday after his production before a local court on completion of his two-day police remand even as his wife Saswati Das, wanted by policed, still remains elusive.

As the investigating agency did not seek a fresh remand of Nayak, the Bhubaneswar Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate sent him back to the jail. Meanwhile on the day, Nayak filed a petition at the Khordha District and Sessions Judge Court seeking his bail. The hearing would be held on Tuesday.

“We have submitted a bail petition at the District and Sessions Court. The hearing will be held on Tuesday. We hope my client will get bail,” said Nayak’s lawyer SN Das.

Nayak has been booked under Sections 304, 308, 285 and 34 of IPC most of which are non-bailable.

The police grilled Nayak during the two-day remand period on various aspects, including the functioning of his hospital and its decision making process.

Investigating officials focused on how he managed to run the hospital even after the expiry of its registration as per the Clinical Establishment Act, sources said. He was also interrogated about the circumstances that led to the fire tragedy which claimed as many as 26 lives.

The teacher-turned- education entrepreneur had surrendered before the police in the wee hours on Thursday, three days after the tragedy struck the hospital that had killed 19 on that night itself. He was arrested later on that day.

So far, five persons, including the SUM superintendent, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

However, Nayak’ wife Saswati Das, against whom the lookout Circular is still in force, hasn’t appeared before the police as yet despite the summons from the latter to cooperate in the investigation process. It is apprehended that she may destroy both documentary and factual evidences. However, the slipshod attitude of the Commissionerate police in tracing out her raises many eyebrows.