High Court Grants Interim Stay on Trial in Puttingal Fireworks Accident Case

Kollam: The Kerala High Court has granted an interim stay on the trial in the Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy case. The court temporarily stayed the trial in Sessions Case No. 1734/2023.

Justice G Girish issued the order after allowing time to examine the government's explanation and related documents concerning the replacement of the Special Public Prosecutor in the trial.

The Public Prosecutor sought a short period to submit the government's explanation regarding the reasons for replacing the Special Public Prosecutor and to produce the relevant files before the court. The third respondent also sought time to file a counter-affidavit.

The case has now been posted for consideration on September 14. The High Court clarified that the interim stay on the trial of the Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy case will remain in force until then.

The High Court's action came on a petition filed by advocate K P Jabbar. Senior Advocate K Gopalakrishna Kurup appeared for the petitioner. Advocates Johnson Gomes and Sanjay Johnson appeared for the third respondent.

The Puttingal fireworks tragedy, which shook the country, occurred on April 10, 2016. A massive explosion during the fireworks display held as part of the Meena Bharani festival at the Puttingal Devi Temple in Paravur, Kollam, resulted in the disaster.

The explosion occurred at 3.11 am, killing 110 people, according to official figures. Another 656 people were injured, around 500 of them seriously. The disaster damaged 358 houses. Revenue authorities estimated the loss at Rs 2.58 crore.

Even 10 years after the disaster, the actual cause of the explosion has not been established. The case was initially investigated by the local police and was later transferred to the Crime Branch. The Crime Branch registered and investigated the case under No. 1734/2023 and filed the chargesheet before the Paravur court. The case was subsequently transferred to the District Sessions Court.

The Crime Branch chargesheet named 59 accused, of whom 15 have since died.

Charges of murder were framed against accused Nos. 1, 3 to 9, 11 to 16, 18 to 21. Accused Nos. 1 to 15 are office-bearers of the temple administration committee. Accused Nos. 16 to 20 are fireworks contractors, while the 21st accused allegedly led the fireworks display.

Accused Nos. 22 to 25, 28 to 41 and 41 to 55 are workers of the fireworks contractors. Accused Nos. 57 to 59 are those who supplied explosives to the fireworks contractors.

More than 1,000 people are listed as witnesses in the case.