An Ernakulam Sessions Court on Friday granted interim bail to Nigosh Kumar, the proprietor of Mridanga Vision, which organized the Mridanga Naadam event where Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas sustained critical injuries after falling from a VIP gallery (Nigoshkumar v State of Kerala). The court granted him bail until January 7, 2025.
Incident Overview
The mishap occurred on December 29, 2024, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, during an ambitious event featuring 12,000 Bharatanatyam performers, organized to set a Guinness World Record. Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas, a prominent Congress leader, was among the guests. While attempting to take her seat in the VIP gallery, she fell approximately 15 feet due to inadequate safety measures, sustaining severe injuries to her brain, spine, and lungs. She remains on ventilator support.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Nigosh Kumar is charged under Section 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for attempting to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He and Janeesh PS, proprietor of Oscar Event Management, had earlier approached the Kerala High Court for anticipatory bail. However, the High Court rejected their plea, directing them to surrender to the police.
Kumar surrendered on January 2, 2025, and was formally arrested the same day. His counsel argued before the magistrate that he was falsely implicated and that the allegations of negligence regarding the VIP gallery’s construction did not justify the invocation of Section 110 of the BNS. The defense further contended there was no evidence of intent or knowledge on Kumar’s part to suggest that his actions could lead to such injuries.
After hearing the arguments, the magistrate granted Kumar interim bail. The bail plea was filed through advocate MR Dhanil.
Allegations of Negligence and Financial Fraud
The organizers of Mridanga Naadam, including Kumar, are facing severe criticism for negligence, particularly concerning the structural safety of the VIP gallery. The incident has raised questions about whether adequate precautions were taken to ensure the venue’s safety, which saw thousands of participants and spectators.
Additionally, the organizers are embroiled in a separate controversy involving allegations of financial fraud. Participants have accused the organizers of collecting significant sums of money without delivering promised services, adding to the legal troubles surrounding the event.
Broader Implications
The case has garnered widespread public attention, given its implications for event management safety standards and the responsibilities of organizers. The mishap, which occurred during an event celebrating cultural heritage, has now cast a shadow over the initiative, turning a moment of pride into a legal and ethical quagmire.
As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to emerge regarding both the safety failures and the financial mismanagement allegations.
