HC grants anticipatory bail to dyeing unit owner

Madras High Court today granted anticipatory bail to the Chairman of a textile dyeing unit where seven employees died of asphyxiation after inhaling toxic gas from an effluent treatment plant last month.
Allowing the petition by K P Ramaswamy of KPR Textiles Private limited in Perunthurai, arraigned as fourth accused in a case registered in connection with the March 18 incident, Justice P Devadass said the petitioner was not involved in the day-to-day operation of the unit and was residing in Coimbatore.
Even as per the version of prosecution, no act resulting in the death of employees had been directly and personally attributed to the petitioner.

The Judge further said the petitioner was a businessman and had a fixed place of residence and had no bad antecedents.
He had also paid Rs 13 lakhs as compensation to each bereaved family and bore the entire medical expenses of nine other employees who took ill in the incident.
He was also ready to co-operate with the investigating officer, the Judge said and directed the petitioner to surrender before Perunthurai Magistrate within 15 days of receipt of this order to avail the bail.
The petitioner was directed to execute a bond for Rs. 1,00,000 with two sureties each for a like sum and report before the Perunthurai Police on every Monday and Friday until further orders.