Peter Van Geit gets anticipatory bail

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Peter Van Geit, a Belgian national associated with the Chennai Trekking Club, which organised the ill-fated trek in Theni recently in which over 23 people perished in a fire accident.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan, hearing Mr. Van Geit’s plea for advance bail, allowed the petition and granted him bail on the condition that he remain in the country till the disposal of the pending suit.

‘Not founder of CTC’

Mr. Van Geit claimed that he was a trustee and not the founder of the club.

In his petition, Mr. Van Geit claimed that the Kurangani police had implicated him as the first accused in the case and an FIR was registered under various Sections of the IPC, including causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

In the original FIR filed by the Bodi Town police, no one was named responsible for the death of trekkers.

He added that the Chennai Trekking Club was a voluntary organisation with free membership.

He said the CTC was registered as a trust by Prabhakar Meyappan and its main objective was to promote events related to sports and outdoor activities, health and environment.

Denies allegations

Denying the allegations that he organised the trek, Mr. Van Geit said that two teams went on an expedition to Kurangani.

The team from Erode was led by Prabhu and the one from Chennai was led by Arun Prabhakar.

Mr. Van Geit claimed he was aware of the trek, but had played no part in organising it.

He was willing to cooperate with the investigation and would not abscond or evade trial, he said.