Reports stated the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai's Royapettah is going to pay the family of 25 year old Arunkumar, who died in a septic tank at the basement of the establishment, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. Meanwhile in addition to this, the mall's General Manager (Plumbing), Murugesan, has been summoned by the police on monday for inquiry. Perhaps the mall has already paid Rs 1 lakh and will pay the rest on Thursday. Viki, a relative of the deceased told "They have given Rs 1 lakh already. They are yet to pay Rs 9 lakh. They have said they will complete the transaction today”.
Earlier on tuesday morning, a contractor named Dhandapani had taken five men Arunkumar, Ranjithkumar, Yuvaraj, Ajithkumar and Sreenath all from Ice house to Express Avenue Mall to clean two water tanks and the septic tank. Furthermore of the five, Ranjithkumar first entered the septic tank and was cleaning it when he fainted inside due to the toxic gases. Perhaps on seeing this, 25 year old Arunkumar, Ranjithkumar's brother, immediately jumped in to rescue him.
Moreover Dhandapani has been remanded to judicial custody as of now," says an investigating official in the case. "We will be conducting inquiry with the mall manager on Monday. Once that is complete, we will include more names in the FIR.” When he spoke to Arunkumar's brother Ranjithkumar on tuesday, he alleged that the contractor had made them pose for a photograph with the safety gear on before telling them to take it off and enter the septic tank, but when Ranjithkumar entered the tank, the mall authorities opened a valve to allow sewer water in, he alleges, causing him to collapse.
