Kamala Mills fire: Police books Three from 1 Above’s managemen

Mumbai: The NM Joshi Marg police has registered a FIR against three persons, identified as Ritesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Mankar of C. Grade Hospitality & Entertainment LLP directors, who were responsible for the management of 1 Above Lounge Bar and Restaurant at Kamala Mills Compound, where a fire claimed the lives of 14 people and injured several others. The accused have been booked under sections pertaining to punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing hurt by endangering life and security of others, and common intention, respectively.

While the management of the restaurant claimed to have all approvals related to fire-safety and operations, many like activist Illyas Khan said that the BMC did not act on complaints against illegalities. Mr Khan pointed to a complaint letter issued to the BMC regarding alleged illegal activities at 1 Above restaurant, one of the restaurants that was gutted by the fire. In reply to the complaint, the health department of the civic body issued a letter to the building and factory department to take action on the same. The management of 1 Above which was gutted in the fire claimed that it had “all its fire safety regulations, licences, procedures and norms in place”. The management said, “There are over 10 fire extinguishers and adequate fire safety signatures in the premises as is required by the authorities. As part of the same fire safety protocol, the fire exit dedicated to 1 Above was maintained well as per rules and regulations — a reason why we were able to evacuate persons speedily.”

Meanwhile, Mr Khan gave a written complaint to the civic body on November 23 this year regarding the illegal business of 1 Above restaurant. The letter expressed strong objection to conducting business on open terraces. In response to the complaint, the health department released a letter, which mentioned that infringements of licence were observed during the civic body’s visit.