Five-day judicial custody for hotel owner, manager

Kolkata: Golden Parkk owner B.S. Gujrral and hotel manager Gautam Majumdar, who were arrested by the Shakespeare Sarani police following the death of two guests in a fire at the hotel on Ho Chi Minh Sarani early on Thursday, have been remanded by the court in judicial custody for five days.

Following his arrest, Mr Gujrral had complained of illness at the police station during interrogation late on Thursday night, sources revealed. He was rushed by the police to Belle Vue Clinic.

CEO of the private hospital Pradip Tondon said, “Around midnight the police brought the accused who complained about having chest-pain. During a health check-up his condition was however found stable. At around 12.44 pm on Friday the police took away him for court-production.” Mr Gujrral was produced at the Alipore court along with Mr Majumdar.

Both were booked under Sections 11J and 11L of the West Bengal Fire Service Act and Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. The police prayed for their custody.

During the hearing, Mr Gujrral, while pleading for himself, argued that security of the hotel was outsourced to a private firm which found it fool-proof during a review on March 28, sources claimed adding that Mr Majumdar reasoned that he was in charge of guest relations contrary to the police treating him as in charge of kitchen.

Rejecting the plea of police custody the court later sent them to the judicial custody till March 4. While the hotel has been sealed, a round-the-clock police picket has been posted there.