Kurnool bus fire: V. Kaveri owner arrested, granted bail

The police on Friday arrested Vemuri Vinod Kumar, the owner of V. Kaveri private travel bus that went up in flames after colliding with a bike, claiming 19 lives last month. He was granted bail by the court later.

The bus collided with a bike that was lying on the road after the rider skidded off and fell down on the NH-44 at Chinnatekur village of Kallur mandal in the early hours of October 24.

The Ulindakonda police, which registered a case, named the bus driver, Miriyala Lakshmaiah, as the accused number 1 and the owner, Vinok Kumar as the accused number 2.

During the investigation, the police found several violations in the design of the vehicle and non-compliance with basic safety guidelines by the bus management.

Lakshmaiah was arrested on October 28, while Vinod Kumar was arrested on Friday morning, a release by the Kurnool police said.

He was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM), Special Mobile Court which granted him bail.