Rajkot fire tragedy: RMC, police lapses revealed as SIT investigation continues

Over a week after the Rajkot fire tragedy that claimed 28 lives, the special investigation team (SIT) has interrogated the issuer of a licence to the game zone, the renewer of the licence, and six police inspectors (PI) till now.

The SIT formed by the state government has also interrogated Indian Police Service (IPS) officers involved in the licensing procedure.

Sources of the SIT team said that the police had given permission only for the ticket booking licence under Section 33 (X) of the Gujarat Police Act, 1951.

The licence was the same one that is handed out for the ticket bookings in events such as circuses.

Passing the buck

In 2021, approval of a ticket booking licence was sought in Rajkot taluka police station in the name of Dhaval Corporation. At that time there was no construction on the site, only a go-karting field. Permission was sought for go-karting and parking in the open space, which was granted by the police.

Later in 2023, a renewal application was filed which was also granted by the police after checking any incidents that happened in the past and checking the criminal records of the licensee.

At that time, the police addressed a letter to the fire department and asked them to look into the related work.

Similarly, Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) issued the power metre after seeing the rent agreement and related documents as per rules. No fire NOC was taken into consideration at that time.

The Roads and Buildings Department is only responsible for checking the structural stability of government properties. Since the TRP Game Zone was private property, no negligence of that department has been proved.

The Town Planning branch of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) issued a notice under Section 260 (2) of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Act, 1949, to demolish the structure of the TRP Game Zone in April 2023.

However, it was not demolished.

In this case, the arrested former TP officer Mansukh Sagathiya claimed that he instructed subordinates to demolish the unauthorised structure, but they didn't.

SIT sources suggest that if subordinates did not comply with notices, it was Sagathiya’s responsibility to demolish the structure.

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Rajkot fire tragedy SIT investigates six officials, four in remand