In a significant development following the Rajkot gaming zone fire that claimed 27 lives, including nine children, the Rajkot Crime Branch has detained Fire Officer BJ Theba and Town Planning Officer MD Sagathia for interrogation. The tragedy occurred at the TRP Gaming Zone on Saturday, which was operating with only an entertainment license and lacked several mandatory clearances.
The detained officials, both from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, are being questioned about how the gaming zone was allowed to function without a no-objection certificate, an approved layout plan, a building-use certificate, and proper fire clearances. The incident has raised serious questions about regulatory oversight and compliance enforcement in the city.
The police have already arrested four owners of the establishment—Yuvrajsinh Solanki, Rahul Rathod, Dhaval Thakkar, and Kiritsinh Jadeja—along with the manager, Nitin Jain. A fifth owner, Prakash Hiran, perished in the fire, confirmed through DNA testing on Tuesday. The accused face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including culpable homicide and endangering life or personal safety.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been established to probe the fire incident, led by Subhash Trivedi. The SIT has been granted the authority to question senior IAS and IPS officials if necessary. Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, met with the SIT and emphasized the importance of holding all responsible parties accountable, including officers from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, fire department, police, and the power utility firm.
The Gujarat High Court has also criticized the Rajkot Municipal Corporation for its apparent negligence, suggesting that the oversight had been ongoing for over two years. In response to the incident, Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel and Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava have been transferred.
Sources By Agencies