Pramesh S Jain.Yogesh K Porwar
A day after the tragic death of a stuntman due to electrocution while shooting a fight scene in Bidadi,police arrested three persons including the director and stunt master and crane operator of the Sandalwood movie, ‘Love You Rachchu’, charging them under death due to negligence.
Bidadi police booked the stunt master,Vinod Kumar and director,Shankar Idigar,producer Guru Deshpande,unit incharge fernandes and crane operator Mahadev following a complaint by Police Constable Khadar Bagaban,who visited the spot and conducted spot inspection.
Police said that as the deceased’s family did not turn up on Monday to file a police complaint,they have taken up a case based on the complaint filed by a police constable who visited the spot.
The police are also questioning everyone who was present at the time of the shooting.The case has been registered against Director Shankar Idigar,Producer,Gurudeshpande,Vinodkumar, Stunt Director,Fernandis,set manager and Mahadev,crane operator.
The three arrested accused were produced before the court and were sent to judicial custody till 24 August.Efforts are on to track Guru and Fernandes who are said to be absconding.
A senior officer said that they are on the lookout for the producer,Gurudeshpande who was not present at the spot and the manager,Fernandis who is currently absconding.
The police have started to question all the crew members and will also be calling the lead actor, Ajay Rao for questioning.
It is a clear case of negligence as everyone at the spot knew that there was a high tension wire passing above the place where the shooting was taking place and still did not take any safety measures or took persimmon from the concerned authorities while performing such dangerous stunts,he said.
The deceased,Vivek,was electrocuted while shooting the fight scene which included crane and metal ropes that came in contact with high tension wire resulting in the mishap.Two others were also injured and were shifted to hospital for treatment.
The incident took place in a private resort in Devanahalli.His colleague Ranjith BL, also injured in the mishap and recovering at the hospital.
Khader in his complaint to the police said that the shooting took place at a private land and the police ruled out the involvement of the owner of the land.
The accused,despite knowing high tension wire passing by,used crane and metal ropes to film a fighting scene and the crane operated close to the high tension wire causing the mishap.
This act shows rash and negligence act endangering the lives of people and the film crew has not obtained permission from authorities concerned,he said .
