The Ernakulam Judicial Magistrate Court on Tuesday, December 31, granted interim bail to three people who were arrested in connection with the alleged safety lapses during a dance event held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi’s Kaloor. The event, which led to Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas falling and suffering serious injuries, took place on December 30. She is currently receiving treatment at Renai Medicity Hospital.
According to reports, the three men arrested were identified as MT Krishnakumar, a resident of Thrikkakara; V Benny, a resident of Mulanthuruthy; and Shameer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mridanga Vision, the company that organised the dance event. The court decided to consider the case on January 3 and granted the accused bail till that date.
The event aimed to set a Guinness World Record, with around 12,000 participants performing Bharatanatyam simultaneously. Film actor Divya Unni led the dancers and secured the record on the same day.
Uma Thomas attended the programme but fell 15 feet from a VIP gallery, and was immediately taken to the hospital. The event continued despite the accident.
After the incident made headlines, several parents of students who had participated in the event alleged that the organising committee had collected Rs 6,000 from each student, promising a Guinness World Record certificate. Subsequent media reports revealed that the event had sponsors, and the organisers had unfairly collected money from the students.
On Tuesday, January 1, the Palarivattom police registered a case related to the money collection. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed against four individuals: Mridanga Vision MD Nikosh Kumar and his wife, CEO Shameer, and Poornima, a friend of Divya Unni.
Meanwhile, media reports indicate that Uma Thomas’ health is improving.