HYDERABAD: Giving an interim relief to Dr Ramesh, founder of Ramesh Hospitals, in the Vijayawada fire tragedy, the Andhra High Court on Tuesday told the state government to stop further actions against him. Ten patients had lost their lives in a fire accident in Hotel Swarna Palace which was taken on lease by Ramesh Hospitals as a Covid facility.
The HC which was hearing a quash petition filed by Dr Ramesh and the hospital’s MD, passed interim orders and directed the state government to stop further actions. The HC also questioned the government why the district collector, joint collector and DHMO were not included in the case. It also found out that management of Ramesh Hospitals was treating patients at the hotel after taking permissions. Fearing police actions against him, the owner of the hospital, Dr Ramesh, has been absconding since the accident took place. Dr Ramesh and the hospital’s MD have also filed an anticipatory bail petition in the court. Meanwhile, the District Court refused to grant bail to three doctors — Dr Kodali Rajagopal Rao, Dr Kurapati Sudershan and Pallaboth Venkatesh — who were directly accused in the hotel fire accident. These three are expected to file bail petitions in the HC. After the accident, the state government had earlier set up an inquiry committee against the hotel as well as the hospital.