Kolkata, May 2 (UNI) Amid the ongoing investigation into the devastating hotel fire on Madan Mohan Burman Street that left 14 people dead, Kolkata Police on Friday made a third arrest.
The accused, identified as Khurshid Alam, was allegedly responsible for the renovation work underway at the hotel when the blaze broke out.
The arrest follows the detention of hotel owner Akash Chawla and manager Gaurav Kapur on Thursday, who were produced before a Kolkata court and remanded in police custody until May 8.
According to police sources, the fire erupted in a section of the hotel building where renovation and structural expansion activities were ongoing.
Alam was taken into custody on charges related to the negligence that potentially contributed to the fire. He is scheduled to be presented before a lower court in Kolkata, where the prosecution is expected to seek his police custody for further interrogation.
During the court proceedings of Chawla and Kapur, the defence challenged several accusations, particularly the claim made by the state fire services department that the hotel's fire safety licence had expired three years ago and had not been renewed.
In their defence, Chawla’s counsel presented a document purportedly showing a renewed fire licence and disputed the applicability of non-bailable sections related to culpable homicide.
"This was clearly an accident. My client had no intention to cause harm. The charges of culpable homicide are excessive and unfounded,” Chawla’s lawyer argued.
Kapur’s legal representative however said that his client was merely an employee and not part of the hotel's decision-making authority.
“He is not a member of the hotel’s board or ownership. Holding him accountable for administrative lapses is unjust,” his counsel told the court.
Despite these arguments, the court granted the prosecution’s request for continued custody to allow for deeper investigation into the circumstances and lapses that led to the fatal incident.
Preliminary findings from the investigation point to a series of serious violations, including inadequate fire safety arrangements and insufficient emergency evacuation plans. Investigators also noted a lack of proper ventilation, which may have exacerbated the tragedy.
Local residents have voiced anger, claiming they had previously filed complaints with authorities regarding illegal construction activities at the hotel, but no action was taken by either the Kolkata Municipal Corporation or local police.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have both announced compensation packages for the victims’ families. Chief Minister Banerjee has assured the public that stern action will be taken against those found guilty of negligence.
West Bengal Fire Minister Sujit Bose confirmed that the hotel’s fire alarm system was non-functional and that the fire extinguishing equipment failed to operate during the critical moments of the blaze.
“There was only one entry and exit point. The emergency exit was blocked by construction materials used for renovation,” a fire services official revealed. “Had the emergency exit been accessible, some of the lives could possibly have been saved.”
The fire has sparked a public outcry over safety standards and enforcement in the city’s budget and mid-range hotels, prompting a broader discussion about fire safety compliance and the responsibilities of hotel owners and regulatory authorities.
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