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Absconding Vishnu surfaces
The former Congress legislator and city Congress president Malladi Vishnu, who had gone into hiding after his name surfaced in the infamous spurious liquor case that took five lives and caused severe illness to 29 others in December, returned home breaking his silence on Tuesday.
Vijayawada: The former Congress legislator and city Congress president Malladi Vishnu, who had gone into hiding after his name surfaced in the infamous spurious liquor case that took five lives and caused severe illness to 29 others in December, returned home breaking his silence on Tuesday.
The city police have booked cases against him and his family members who own the ill-fated Swarna Bar and Restaurant where the mishap occurred. A special investigating team (SIT) is probing into the incident and Vishnu, who was in the city for two days after the incident went hiding later.
He filed an anticipatory bail petition in the High Court which had dismissed it on Monday. However, the court had received a written statement from the police stating that they were not prepared yet to arrest Vishnu in the case but wanted his presence before the SIT for questioning as part of the investigation.
On the directions of the High Court and also on the advice of his advocates, Vishnu reached his home at Labbipet in the city on Tuesday morning. Speaking to The Hans India, Vishnu said that he would appear before the SIT for questioning. “The police have given in writing to the High Court that they are not going to arrest me but wanted me to be present before SIT for investigation. I am ready for that,” he said. Vishnu remained stuck to his position that neither he nor his family members committed a crime.
“The water from the cooler appeared to be the cause for the death and illness of those who consumed liquor on that day. The water was contaminated and I stand by my statement,” he asserted. He further said that the forensic laboratory report too did not confirm the contamination of the liquor served by the bar. “I am confident and will come out clean,” Vishnu asserted.
Meanwhile, the SIT is gearing up to summon Vishnu for questioning on the issue on Wednesday. The SIT had already completed the initial probe into the case and is also in possession of the forensic and other reports relating to the case. The excise department had already cleared the liquor brands that were put on hold for a week for testing following the incident.
