Gujarat HC rejects discharge pleas of RMC officials in Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire case

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed the discharge applications filed by Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s Assistant Engineer Jaydeep Chaudhary and Station Fire Officer Rohit Vigora in connection with the Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire, which killed 28 people.

Chaudhary and Vigora had sought to be released from the case without charges. However, Justice L S Peerzada observed that allegations of criminal negligence and serious dereliction of duty warranted trial proceedings.

Prosecution cites grave lapses

Opposing the discharge petition, Special Public Prosecutor Virat Popat had argued that the blaze was a result of the officers’ “grave negligence and criminal carelessness.”

He submitted that Fire Officer Vigora took no action despite being aware that the Game Zone had already witnessed a fire incident earlier, and lacked a mandatory fire no-objection certificate (NOC). The officer allegedly failed to report the lapses, enforce preventive steps, or initiate closure of the facility, Popat told the court.

The prosecutor further argued that Assistant Engineer Chaudhary was equally responsible as he allowed the construction of the TRP Game Zone despite its illegality. He contended that the engineer did not act on his statutory duties in time, which contributed to the tragedy.

“If the accused had acted responsibly and lawfully, 28 innocent citizens would not have been burnt alive,” Popat told the court.

High Court accepts prosecution’s stand

Considering the prosecution’s submissions, the high court concluded that there was sufficient prima facie evidence against the accused. It ruled that both officers could not be discharged at this stage and must face trial.

Status of other accused

• The TRP fire case involves 15 accused, of whom seven remain in jail.
• The high court previously rejected regular bail pleas of:
• Former town planning officer Mansukh Sagathiya
• Former chief fire officer Ilesh Kher
• Kiritsinh Jadeja (one of the owners)
• Former assistant town planning officer Rajesh Makwana
• Assistant engineer (town planning) Jaydeep Chaudhary
• Assistant engineer Gautam Devshankar Joshi

However, the Supreme Court later granted conditional bail to Sagathiya and Kher.

The TRP Game Zone fire incident

On May 25, 2024, a massive fire broke out at the TRP Game Zone in the Nana-Mava area of Rajkot. The blaze killed 28 people, including four children, and left the state in shock.

Police booked the accused under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:

• 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)
• 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide)
• 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life)
• 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life)
• 114 (abetment)