FIR filed against Matheran resort after tree-fall leaves chartered accountant paralysed

The tent (circled) in which Jesline Gomes was sleeping when the tree fell, at the resort in Matheran

Matheran police have finally registered an FIR against the resort where a night of camping turned a chartered accountant's life upside down. They had initially refused to file a case stating that it was a natural calamity, but after mid-day's report of the incident went viral in the small hill station, senior officers ordered action against the resort.

Matheran police filed the FIR against Alexander Heritage And Rainforest Resort on Wednesday, but have no information about its owner. They have also sent a letter to the Matheran Municipal Corporation seeking to know if the resort took permission to set up tents.

The action was taken on the directions of the deputy commissioner of police, assistant commissioner of police and additional commissioner of police. Matheran police also sent a constable to Mumbai to record the victim's statement.

Victim Jesline Gomes, 25, during her treatment earlier this month

On March 21, Jesline Gomes, a 25-year-old resident of Kalina, was sleeping inside her tent when a tree fell on it and she sustained grievous head and spinal injuries, which has left her paralysed down the neck. Gomes is still admitted at Kokilaben hospital and undergoing rehabilitation treatment.

Assistant Police Inspector Prashant Kale told mid-day, "We have registered under Sections 336, 337 and 338 (whoever does any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) of the IPC. We still don't have any information about the resort's owner. We gave the resort a notice to give a statement about the incident, but there is no response. We will take strict action." He added that the case was registered on a complaint from Gomes's father.

Ashish Thakre, the deputy conservator of forest (Alibaug), said, "We don't have authority to give permission to set up tents in the forest area. The municipal corporation superintendent has that authority. It was really shocking to read the news about the woman's injuries in mid-day."

Speaking to mid-day, Maria Vaz, social activist and owner of Hope Hall hotel in Matheran, said, "Someone sent me mid-day's article about Jesline's tragic accident in Matheran. I explained the legal position to officer Kale and told him it was wrong of the police not to register an FIR against the resort. I petitioned the Raigad collector. Jesline will get justice. Hotel guests are supposed to be housed in hotel rooms, not in tents for which permission has not been granted. If the guest was housed in a hotel room, a fallen tree would not have caused a such a severe injury. It would have been wrong to close this matter as a natural calamity."