Debashish Sinha association President of Prestige Lakeside Habitat Bengaluru has been arrested in the electrocution death of Manya Damerla
Seven individuals, including the president of Prestige Lakeside Habitat, were apprehended by Varthur police in Bengaluru on Saturday in connection to the tragic demise of 9-year-old Manya Damerla
The incident, which occurred last December, involved Manya being electrocuted after falling into a swimming pool within the apartment complex. The suspects were presented in court and subsequently remanded into judicial custody.
Who is Debashish Sinha association President of Prestige Lakeside Habitat Bengaluru arrested in the electrocution death of Manya Damerla
Tragic news from Bengaluru
9yr old Manya found dead inside swimming pool of Prestige Lakeside Habitat apartments, off Varthur road. Cause of death suspected to be electrocution
Incident reported at 7.30pm Dec 28th. Manya was playing with few children by the pool side…ran to… pic.twitter.com/4KVyxPyjJ2
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) December 29, 2023
Reports from authorities indicate that Manya was playing near the pool around 7:30 PM on December 29, 2023, when the accident transpired. Despite being rushed to a private hospital, medical professionals pronounced her deceased.
Suspect’s Identity
The primary suspect, identified as Debashish Sinha, aged 37, holds the position of President within the Home Owners’ Association of Prestige Lakeside Habitat.
Others arrested include Safiq Rao, aged 44 and serving as the Vice-President of Prestige Property Management, alongside electricians Santosh Maharana (27), Gobinda Mandal, Bikas Kumar Paridha (32), and Bhaktha Charan Pradhan.
Charges Filed Against Suspect
"We want justice. Till now no one is held responsible for my daughter death. I don't want any parents to go through this," says Rajesh Kumar Damerla whose daughter died in a swimming pool in prestige lakeside habitat apartment, #Varthur road, #Bengaluru, #Karnataka. Electrocution… pic.twitter.com/8Hk6zYkcjb
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) December 30, 2023
Additionally, Suresh Babu, owner of Vision India Marketing, was also detained. Charges have been filed against them under sections 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of an offense) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
Investigations reveal that both the apartment management and electricians were aware of the presence of live electric current in the swimming pool but failed to implement adequate safety precautions.
Manya Damerla’s Parents
Consequently, when Manya entered the pool, she suffered electrocution, resulting in immediate fatality. Manya resided with her family in the apartment complex situated off the Varthur-Gunjur road.
Her father, Rajesh Kumar Damerla, serves as the founder-CEO of Life Simplified, a digital content-creation platform. Manya, the sole daughter of a couple hailing from Andhra Pradesh, was enrolled in an International school situated near Dommasandra on Varthur Road.
Subsequent to the tragedy, residents organized protests, attributing the girl’s demise to negligence on the part of the apartment complex’s management.
Following the unfortunate event at Prestige Lakeside Habitat, the Prestige group issued a statement expressing profound regret. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families impacted by this tragic loss.
“Safety remains our paramount concern, and we are fully engaged with the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at averting similar incidents. Our dedication is unwavering in implementing all requisite measures to avert such occurrences in the future,” wrote Prestige group in their statement.
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