New twist in Meenangadi school trip controversy: Principal, PTA President spotted at Hyderabad bar; CCTV footage surfaces

KALPETTA: CCTV footage has emerged showing Meenangadi Higher Secondary School Principal Shivi Krishna and PTA President S Haji entering a bar during a school excursion. The footage shows the two arriving together at Bombay Bar and Restaurant in Nampally, Hyderabad, and later leaving the premises. Details of the bill paid at the bar have also come to light. The Rs 1,100 bill for alcohol consumption was paid by the PTA president using his ATM card from his personal bank account.

Half of the students who took part in the excursion were staying at Highlight Hotel, located opposite the bar. Some students had seen the principal and the PTA president entering the bar around noon. The CCTV footage came to light during an investigation following these observations.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Administrative Tribunal had stayed the order transferring Shivi Krishna from Meenangadi Higher Secondary School to Vaduvanchal School following allegations that she had consumed alcohol during the excursion. The tribunal's intervention came after Shivi Krishna filed a petition seeking the cancellation of his transfer.

The stay order came after higher secondary students boycotted classes and staged a protest at the school, demanding the withdrawal of the principal's transfer.

Earlier, the Regional Deputy Director (RDD) had conducted an inquiry into the allegations of drinking during the trip but could not establish that the principal had consumed alcohol. However, the inquiry found that the excursion had been organised without complying with government guidelines. This finding led to Shivi Krishna's transfer to Vaduvanchal School.