Kaloor Stadium Event Faces Scrutiny

 Kochi City Police Commissioner Putt Vimalaadithya told newspersons that, to date, no complaints regarding financial fraud related to the event have been received. However, he confirmed that investigations are underway to determine whether film personalities, including Divya Unni, had any involvement in the event's organization. The Commissioner emphasized that all aspects of the event, including the permissions granted and the safety measures implemented, are under thorough scrutiny.

Preliminary findings suggest significant lapses on the part of the organizers, particularly concerning the construction of the temporary gallery from which the MLA fell. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), responsible for the stadium, clarified that permission was granted solely for the use of the stadium grounds. Any additional constructions, such as the temporary gallery, required separate approvals, which were not obtained by the organizers. GCDA Chairman K. Chandran Pillai indicated that notices would be issued to the organizers, pending further reports from the police.

Further complicating matters, reports have emerged alleging that the organizers collected substantial participation fees from the dancers. Parents of participating children claimed that amounts ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 were charged per participant, accumulating to over ₹4 crore from approximately 12,000 dancers. These revelations have raised concerns about the financial transparency and ethical practices of the event's management.

In response to the incident, the police have arrested Krishna Kumar, the owner of the event management company responsible for the program. He was later released on station bail. Additionally, Nighosh Kumar, the Managing Director of Mridanga Vision, has filed an anticipatory bail application, asserting that all necessary safety protocols were followed during the event's organization. The Kerala High Court is expected to consider this application shortly.

The Fire and Rescue Services Department conducted an assessment of the temporary structures erected for the event and reported significant safety violations. Their findings indicated that the stage and galleries were constructed without adhering to mandatory safety standards, lacking proper structural integrity and necessary approvals. This negligence is believed to have directly contributed to the accident involving MLA Uma Thomas. Open URL