The Manjalpur police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of Vipulsinh Mohansinh Zala, son of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, who died after accidentally falling into an open sewer late on December 26.
The case has been filed against the owners and concerned staff of a private agency responsible for sewer maintenance in the area, after preliminary findings pointed to serious negligence at the site.
According to the complaint lodged by the victim’s wife, Madhaviba, the incident occurred near the Sports Complex close to Darbar Chowkdi. The family had gone out for dinner at Chinese food stalls in the vicinity when Vipulsinh stepped away to park their car. When he failed to return, relatives attempted to contact him repeatedly, but his phone remained switched off.
A search of the area led the family to a main sewer line near the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s overhead and underground water tank compound, where they found the sewer cover displaced and lying open. Using a mobile phone torch, they spotted Vipulsinh’s footwear floating inside the drain.
Emergency services were alerted by local residents, and teams from the fire brigade and the 108 ambulance service reached the spot. Vipulsinh was pulled out of the sewer, estimated to be 20 to 25 feet deep, and taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment.
Police said initial investigation revealed that the sewer had been left uncovered without barricades, warning signs or caution boards, despite being located in a publicly accessible area. This, officials said, constituted criminal negligence.
Based on the complaint, an offence has been registered under Sections 105 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the owners and employees of Eco Facility Management Services, the agency entrusted with cleaning and maintenance work at the location. Police said further investigation is underway to determine individual responsibility and examine any lapses on the part of civic authorities.
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has suspended an engineer and issued a notice to the Deputy Executive Engineer in connection with the negligence leading to the incident.
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