Kamala Mills Fire | Police may book architect of pubs, compound co-owner, civic officials

The NM Joshi Marg police probing the Kamala Mills fire tragedy that killed 14 people and injured at least 22 are likely to book the architect of 1Above and Mojo’s, the co-director of Kamala Mills compound, as well as the civic officials who have been suspended from duty.

On Saturday, the police had arrested Ravi Bhandari, a co-owner of the compound, Utkarsh Pande, the hookah supplier at 1Above and Mojo, and Rajendra Patil, a fire officer.

The police believe that all three individuals are equally responsible for the tragedy. They have also said that the architect of both pubs has been booked for using flammable material as part of the décor. In addition, BMC officials have been booked for allowing illegal extensions in the premises.

The three accused were produced before the Bhoiwada court on Sunday from where they have been remanded in police custody till January 25.

The lawyers of the accused have, however, argued that they have submitted the documents and there was no need for police custody.

A report filed by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) has concluded that the Kamala Mills fire that started at Mojo Bistro thanks to a piece of charcoal spread to 1Above, the restaurant above Mojo as the latter had some highly combustible material in its premises.

The Mumbai police had earlier said the owners of 1Above were responsible for the deaths of 14 people.

The report has also recommended a departmental inquiry against 10 municipal officials.

Mojo Bistro, which was located a floor below 1Above, was reportedly the source of the fire after a piece of charcoal in a hookah started the blaze that killed 14 people on the midnight of December 28.

Kripesh and Jigar Sanghavi, the owners of 1Above, were arrested on January 11 and have been charged with Indian Penal Code sections 304 - Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, 337 - Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others, 338 - Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others and 34 - Common intention.

Earlier, the owner of Mojo's Bistro Yug Pathak was produced in Bhoiwada court on Sunday. Pathak had been arrested in connection with the fire in Kamala Mill’s which claimed 14 lives on Saturday. He will be kept in police custody till January 12.

14 people were killed and 21 injured after the fire broke out on the midnight of December 28.

Among those killed was Khushbu Bansali, a woman who was celebrating her 29th birthday at "1Above", and several of her friends.

Two American brothers of Indian origin, and their aunt, who had gone to celebrate Khushbu's birthday, were also among the dead.

The blaze, the cause of which is not clear yet, started after 12.30 am at the 1Above pub on the terrace, resulting in collapse of its bamboo-propped canopy, as towering flames leapt metres into the dark sky. It also engulfed the Mojo's Bistro pub a storey below.

Most of the victims died of asphyxiation, said Avinash Supe, dean of the KEM hospital where the injured and dead were brought.