Ex-principal of DPS held for negligence

BHOPAL: The former principal of Delhi Public School, Indore, Sudarshan Sonar was arrested on Monday on charges of negligence in ensuring the safety of students.

Four students and a driver were killed on January 5 when the bus carrying them collided with a truck on the Indore bypass. Two students are still battling for their life in the ICU of a private hospital. According to the police, the bus driver had flagged the problems in the vehicle to the school authorities but they did not pay any heed to his complaint.

After the accident, Indore collector Nishant Warwade ordered a magisterial probe in the matter.

City superintendent of police , Indore, Jayant Rathod said, “Sudarshan Sonar, who was the principal when the accident took place, was found guilty of negligence in the magisterial probe. Sonar was held responsible for not following the CBSE and collector guidelines to ensure safety of the children. He did not take any action even after the driver apprised him of the problems in the 14-year-old bus.”

The parents of the students had organised a condolence meeting on February 5 and staged a protest, demanding action against the school. They also urged people to press the NOTA button on EVMs in the upcoming assembly polls as they blamed CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan for failing to punish the guilty.