FIR registered against Koramangala cafe and building owners after massive fire

BENGALURU: Following the major fire that broke out at Mudpipe Cafe and pub in Koramangala on Wednesday, an FIR was registered against the cafe owner and the building owner at Suddaguntepalya police station.

The FIR has been registered against cafe owner Karan Jain and building owner Kushal on charges of negligence (IPC section 338, 286).

Currently, Karan Jain has switched off his mobile phone and police are on the lookout for him. After the FIR was filed, the police issued a notice to the accused to appear for questioning.

On Thursday, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara and Director General of Police (Fire Services) Kamal Pant visited the site of the incident.

Minister Parameshwara, speaking to the media, said, “I don’t know exactly what caused the LPG cylinder to blast, but one cylinder after another blasted. All those in the building escaped and one person had jumped off the building. He is out now of danger. No permission had been given to put up a temporary structure, they were only allowed to run a hotel, but they were running a hookah bar illegally here”.

Further, he said, “After the Attibele firecracker disaster and the hotel disaster yesterday, we are going to take strict action. All restaurants in Bengaluru will be inspected. Innocent people are dying due to someone’s illegal business. Some strict rules will be enforced for firecrackers in Bengaluru. There is purely negligence on the part of Palike in the Koramangala cylinder blast case. The permission given by BBMP was for something else and what they were doing was different. The BBMP should have checked after giving permission, and action will be taken against the officials concerned”.

According to the police, the site of the fire accident was a restaurant, but locals claim a hookah bar was also functioning, without permission. Citizens have questioned how the officials remained unaware about the illegal business.

Firefigheters had found items used in hookah bars while extinguishing the fire. Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Raman Gupta has instructed the officers to conduct an investigation into the issue.

DGP (Fire and Emergency Services) Kamal Pant has also instructed the personnel to conduct inspections in the all kitchens of hookah bars. After conducting inspections at all places, including kitchen and other places, the police will be informed where the fire department rules are not being followed, for necessary action.

One person, Prem Singh Saud (29), had jumped from the fourth floor of the building to save himself from the flames. He was admitted to the hospital in an unconscious state. A video of him jumping from the terrace of the building had shocked people who said that if fire safety rules were followed, such tragedies would not have happened.