Relatives of victims in Hyderabad fire accuse police of inaction

Hyderabad: Relatives of the six persons who were killed in a fire in the Swapnalok Complex last month, said the police was not taking action against the management of Vihaan Direct Selling Pvt Lt, despite their lodging a complaint against the company on March 17.

Four women and two men employees of Vihaan Direct died in the office premises after inhaling carbon monoxide emitted from a fire in the Kedia Flexo office at the fifth floor B-Block of the complex on March 16.

The victims’ relatives said they had been requesting Vihaan Direct managing director Shiva Naga Malliah and centre head Shravani Reddy to return the Rs 22 lakh deposit that the victims had paid to the company where they were given jobs. The two officials have switched off their phones, they said.

“We have not received any updates from Mahankali police about the arrest of Mallaiah or Shravani Reddy, said G. Jangaiah, Rama Rao and Padma who children were among the victims.

“We are from an agricultural background. We have lost our loved ones, we hardly know about police investigation and for the first time have heard that the Enforcement Directorate is probing into the case, said Jangaiah.