Peter Van Geit granted bail

BODI

Bodi Judicial Magistrate R. Manivasagan on Wednesday granted unconditional bail to Peter Van Geit, a Belgian, associated with Chennai Trekking Club, which organised the ill-fated trek in Kozhukkumalai Reserve Forests in Theni district on March 11, in which the trekkers were caught in a forest fire that claimed 23 lives.

Mr. Peter appeared before the court along with a team of four lawyers and two persons to stand surety. The judicial magistrate granted him bail after accepting the sureties.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on April 12 had granted anticipatory bail to Mr. Peter on the condition that he should remain in the country till the disposal of the case.

Initially, Bodi Town police had filed an FIR under Section 174 of the Cr.P.C. (accidental fire) and later altered it to invoke Sections 336, 337, 338 and 304 (2) of the IPC and Section 21 (D) of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882.

There were 39 members in two groups who took the trekking expedition in Kozhukkumalai Reserve Forests close to Kurangani.

Principal Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) Atulya Misra, appointed by the government to conduct an inquiry into the incident, inspected the accident spot on Kozhukkumalai hill and conducted inquiries with police, forest and revenue officials and rural people at hill villages in this connection on March 22.