Pune:The Talegaon MIDC police on Wednesday registered a case of causing death by negligence against the principal, manager, sports department head and the ground maintenance staffer of Tolani Maritime Institute at Indori in Maval taluka, after a 20-year-old student died when the rim of a basketball hoop collapsed on his head while he was hanging from it.The accident occurred around 7.30 am on April 5, when the victim, Vishal Verma, was returning to his hostel room after a routine workout. Vishal’s elder brother, Ashok (27) on Wednesday approached the Talegaon MIDC police and lodged a complaint. The police registered the case under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 3(5) [common intention] of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the principal and three others.Principal of Tolani Maritime Institute, Sanjeet Kanungo, toldTOIon Thursday that the management was conducting a thorough audit of the campus, keeping students’ safety on top following the accident. “We have started the audit of all recreational and sports activity spaces on the campus to identify dangerous spots and take corrective action. Students’ safety is our top priority and we will ensure that the campus is safe for them. After this audit, we will rectify all the facilities that need repair or replacement,” Kanungo said.Sub-inspector Prashant Relekar of the Talegaon MIDC police said Vishal, from Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, was a second-year BTech (Marine) student at the Tolani Maritime Institute. He tried to do push-ups by hanging from the rim of the basketball hoop around 7.30am on April 5. The pole could not sustain the load and the entire structure collapsed.“Vishal suffered severe head injuries. He was taken to a hospital in Talegaon Dabhade, where he succumbed to injuries during treatment around 10am,” Relekar said.The officer said after the cremation of Vishal, his brother, father and other relatives went to the institute on April 10 and met the principal, teachers and students. “Ashok, the victim’s brother, stated in his complaint that the pole at the basketball ground was fixed about 15 years ago. It was rusted and poorly maintained,” Relekar said.He said Ashok’s brother stated in the complaint that the poorly maintained pole caused the death of his brother. “The complaint mentioned that the ground maintenance staffer, sports department head, the principal and the manager of the institute were responsible for Vishal’s death,” he said.Relekar said the police had already registered a case of accidental death. “We recorded statements of students and the college authorities. We have registered the case of causing death by negligence based on the complaint by the student’s brother,” he said.
