Delhi court directs cops to produce firecracker factory's owner on Jan 24

A Delhi court on Monday asked the city police to produce Manoj Jain, the owner of the firecracker factory in Bawana where 17 people were charred to death in a deadly blaze on January 20.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh directed the police to produce Jain before it on January 24 after the cops moved an application stating that the accused could not be produced from judicial custody as sufficient police force was not available due to the Republic Day preparations.

"The Investigating Officer (IO) submits that accused was to be produced today from the judicial custody but because of the Republic Day arrangements, sufficient police was not available.

"The IO submits that since the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day is scheduled for January 23, it was highly likely that the accused would not be produced tomorrow," the court said in its order.

Appearing for the accused, his counsel Pradeep Rana stated that it would be illegal to keep his client in custody in absence of specific order regarding his custody. However, the court stated that this plea shall be considered after hearing all the stakeholders on the next date of hearing, ie, January 24.

While allowing the application of the cops, the court directed that"Copy of this order be sent to the DCP, 3rd Battalion as well as Jail Superintendent concerned directing them to ensure that the accused is produced positively on January 24 preferably at 11 am so that the relevant prayer of the IO and the counsel for the accused can be considered," the court added.

Jain was arrested late on Saturday night after 17 labourers were burnt alive and two were injured when a massive fire broke out at the factory.

He was arrested under sections 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Explosives Act.

The charges

• Manoj Jain was held under Sections 285, (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and others of the IPC