This story is from January 23, 2021

Fadnavis slams MVA govt for no FIR in Bhandara case

Fadnavis slams MVA govt for no FIR in Bhandara case
Nagpur: Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, now leader of opposition in the assembly, took a dig at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government for not registering an offence in the Bhandara district general hospital fire case even two weeks after the incident.
The fire had claimed 10 premature babies in the Sick Newborn Care Unit of the hospital.

Sources stated state director general of police (DGP), Hemant Nagrale, is set to visit Bhandara on Saturday.
Fadnavis is set to launch an agitation in the district on January 25 during which he would raise the FIR issue. The local BJP unit, which had called one-day bandh after the incident, is gearing up to stage intense agitation under Fadnavis.
The ex-CM, who also helmed the home department during the BJP-led government rule, claimed that police is working under government pressure. “Police must register the FIR without delay. From their approach so far, it seems police are concluding the incident to be an accident which is not right at this stage,” he said.
“Even if the accident had happened due to human error or negligence, the investigating agency must incorporate the finding in the charge sheet,” said Fadnavis who also stated that there are several aspects to the incident which needs to be probed.

He also said police should not close the case as an accident.
Fadnavis said the government itself may not be inclined to allowing criminal proceedings in the case. “One of the files (proposal for fire maintenance and audit) was delayed by the health department for six months. It is making the government feel insecure about the criminal proceedings as it may boomerang on them,” he said.
After a high-level inquiry committee submitted its report earlier this week, the government suspended the Bhandara district civil surgeon (CS), medical officer and in-charge sister, terminated services of three contract staff besides transferring the additional CS.
Police department had been stating it is waiting for the committee report before proceeding with its action. It is reliably learnt that the Bhandara police are still clueless about the report which is yet to reach them. “We will take the decision about the FIR soon,” said SP Bhandara, Vasant Jadhav.
Sources stated police are also yet to get the laboratory and forensic reports which would have to be considered while filing the FIR.
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