The Madras High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to N. Vijayan, correspondent of the Zion Group of Schools at Selaiyur near here, and P. Rajasekaran, Motor Vehicles Inspector (MVI), Tambaram, who were arrested in connection with the death of a seven-year-old girl Sruthi.
It also directed them to pay monetary compensation to the parents of the victim.
Sruthi died on July 25 after she fell through a gaping hole on the floor of the school bus. The school correspondent and the Motor Vehicles Inspector, along with others, were arrested and their bail pleas rejected by the Madras High Court on August 8.
Granting bail, Justice G.M. Akbar Ali said perusal of the records showed that the material part of the investigation was over. Taking note of the change of circumstances, the court felt that no prejudice would be caused to the prosecution if the petitioners were enlarged on bail with stringent conditions to ensure that they would not tamper with witnesses and flee from justice. The court directed the accused to execute a bond of Rs. 1 lakh with two sureties each for a similar sum to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Tambaram.
At the time of executing the bond, Vijayan should deposit Rs. 5 lakh and Rajasekaran Rs. 2 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family before the Judicial Magistrate.
The court also said after depositing of the compensation amount, the parents of the victim would be permitted to withdraw the amount. This would be independent of any other claims that might be raised by the bereaved family under any other law.
The Judge also ordered the accused to stay in Tiruchi and report before Judicial Magistrate No. I daily at 10.30 am for two weeks.