The Karnataka Police on Thursday arrested former BJP MLA Kiran Kumar in connection with the death of three students at a boarding school in Tumkur district.
According to police, three kids died of suspected food poisoning at Vidhyavaridhi International Boarding school which is run by the former MLA.
The children, police said, took ill after ingesting food served for dinner on Wednesday and were taken to government hospital, where they were declared brought dead.
Tumakuru Deputy Commissioner Mohan Raj said that the children were taken to a private doctor and on his advice they were rushed to the district hospital, but died on the way. Two of them were aged 15 and 14.
The school run by former MLA Kiram Kumar told reporters here that he suspected ‘foul play’ and the matter should be probed.
Kumar claimed that the food served to the affected children was taken to his home which his family members ate.
The children who consumed it later were affected and ‘something has happened in between.. foul play.. It should be probed’.
A case under Section 304 of IPC (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) had been registered, the District Superintendent of Police Isha Pant said adding, "Whosoever is responsible will be punished."
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he has directed district authorities to conduct a swift investigation to determine the cause of death and take action against those responsible.
