Amravati: The death of tribal student Rajesh Bethekar of Maharshi Public School has taken a new turn with his family alleging negligence by the school administration and demanded a case of culpable homicide be registered against school director Prashant Rathi.Bethekar’s father Babu Sabulal Bethekar, brother Ashish and other relatives, led by UBT Sena office-bearer Shubham Jawanjal, approached Chikhaldara police station on Saturday and lodged a formal complaint there.“We had earlier complained at Gadge Nagar police station in Amravati. But since the death occurred in Melghat, we approached Chikhaldara police,” Jawanjal said.He said Rajesh’s village falls under Hatru police station where an accidental death report (ADR) has been recorded, but due to some technical difficulties, further action could not be taken there. Chikhaldara police have now taken the complaint on record.According to the family, students of the tribal ashram school run at Maharshi Public School suffered vomiting and diarrhoea on Aug 14 due to suspected food poisoning.Rajesh and his cousin Ramprasad fell seriously ill. Instead of shifting them to hospital, the school allegedly sent them to their village Karanjkheda in Chikhaldara tehsil. Rajesh’s condition deteriorated and he died in the early hours of Aug 16 at Churni sub-district hospital (SDH). The family alleged that Rajesh was denied timely medical care.Police said Rajesh was buried after his last rites. To ascertain exact cause of death, his body will be exhumed and autopsied by a team on Monday.“We have sought permission from the sub-divisional magistrate to exhume the body,” said Chikhaldara police station incharge Praveen Patil.The family claimed Ramprasad’s medical report mentions food poisoning and submitted it to police.Police said medical papers of other ill students and doctors’ reports are being examined. The autopsy report is expected to be crucial in fixing responsibility. An ADR has been registered and further probe is on.
