Kannada filmmaker Yogaraj Bhat under investigation following crew member's fatal accident on set

In response to the incident, the Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE) has expressed its condolences to Kumar’s family.

Published on: Sep 8, 2024, 10:40:45 IST

By Yamini C S

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In an unexpected turn of events, a case has been filed against Kannada film maker Yogaraj Bhat and three other individuals after a tragic incident on the set of a film led to the death of a crew member. The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 3, during the filming of "Manada Kadalu" near Adakamaranahalli in Dasanapura, falling under the jurisdiction of the Madanayakanahalli police station, news agency PTI reported.

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According to police reports, Mohan Kumar, a 24-year-old light technician, fell from a 30-foot ladder while working on the set. Kumar suffered critical injuries from the fall and was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Following a complaint lodged by Kumar’s brother, authorities have filed charges against Bhat, the film’s assistant director, and the producer.

A senior police officer confirmed that notices have been issued to those named in the First Information Report (FIR), and an investigation is currently in progress. "We have served notice to those named in the FIR and further investigation is underway," he said.

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In response to the incident, the Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE) has expressed its condolences to Kumar’s family. Established in 2017, FIRE advocates for justice and better conditions for marginalized workers within the film industry.

"Any death in the film industry is a loss to us all. In the future, FIRE intends to work with all Okkutas & all workers' unions, all bodies of the Kannada film industry and the Labour department of our state government to provide fundamental benefits to our workers," a statement by the organisation said.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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