The manager of the transport company that operated the sleeper bus which caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine people, has been arrested, taking the number of arrests in the case to four, police officials said on Saturday.
The investigation has found that the bus’ drivers and conductors had informed the transport company through the manager about problems in the vehicle.
The arrested manager, identified as Vikas, was called for questioning from Delhi’s Kashmere Gate on Friday and subsequently arrested. The accused allegedly abandoned the bus and fled after it caught fire. He was produced before a court and sent to 14 days’ judicial custody, while the three people arrested earlier in the case are also in judicial custody, a police officer said. The bus, travelling from Kashmere Gate in Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, caught fire around 11.20 pm on Wednesday near the 33-km milestone of the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine of the 35 passengers onboard, officials said.
“The investigation has found that the bus’ drivers and conductors had informed the transport company through the manager about problems in the vehicle, including an issue with the gearbox, but the complaints were allegedly ignored, an official said. The incident happened a few days later,” the official said. Police said the investigation is also being conducted with the assistance of the Transport Department and further action would be taken soon.
Police had earlier arrested two drivers, Pawan and Yogesh Dixit, and conductor Rohit, all residents of Kanpur Dehat.
