Metis Energy claims building damaged, assets gutted; fire dept says no distress call
While Metis Energy, office of Prayas Jain, who was arrested in the case of corporate espionage along with journalist Santanu Saikia, claimed that a fire in their office on February 18 damaged the building and assets inside, Delhi fire services control said that they did not receive any fire call from their office on that day.
Metis Energy sent an e-mail to its clients just a day after Jain's arrest stating that the daily newsletter that the firm used to circulate on updates and trends in oil, gas and power sectors could not be delivered due to a fire on the premises of their office. Jain is chief executive of the firm. Metis Energy's office is located at 23/1, level 2, East Patel Nagar.
The e-mail sent by Sonam Gupta, who according to the website of the firm handles research and dashboard, read: "Unfortunately a massive fire had broken out at our business premise yesterday (February 18). We were able to get hold of it, however, considerable damage has been caused to the building and assets inside."
According to officers of fire control room, the calls from East Patel Nagar, even if there is a minor fire, are directed to Prasad Nagar fire station. Both officers of the Prasad Nagar fire station and Fire Control Room said that there was no fire call between 18-20 February from Metis Energy's office. "If there was a fire that caused damage to the building, then we would have certainly got a call," said the fire officer in control room.
Meanwhile, the four accused -- Lalta Prasad, Rakesh Kumar, Prayas Jain and Shantanu Saikia – arrested in the document leak from petroleum ministry alleged in the court today that police had forced them to sign on five-six blank papers during their custodial interrogation. They were remanded to judicial custody till March 6.
Another man, who was allegedly involved in leaking "secret" documents from ministries of coal and power, was arrested on Monday.
While Lokesh, who used to run a consultancy firm in Noida and was arrested by police on Monday, was given five-day custodial arrest after police told the court that various "sensitive" documents were found in possession of Lokesh.
BS Bassi, Delhi Police Commissioner, said that Lokesh's arrest was not related to the case in which 12 people were arrested for document leak from petroleum ministry and so he was booked under a separate FIR.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}