Police have filed a nearly 350-page chargesheet against three people in connection with the New Market hotel fire in Kolkata that killed nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The chargesheet was submitted at Bankshall court within 90 days of the incident, according to a report by Anandabazar – Kolkata.
The accused named in the chargesheet are building owner Bireswar Mitra, businessman Abu Zafar and his wife Saba Zafar. Investigators have included statements from 90 witnesses and a forensic report in the case, the report said.
Police have invoked charges relating to causing death by negligence, attempting to cause death by negligence, endangering human life and criminal conspiracy. The charges are based on the investigation into the fire that broke out in the early hours of 19 August at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street, in the New Market police station area.
The fire killed nine people. Seven of the victims were Bangladeshi citizens. The police investigation found that the premises had originally been a residential building but had allegedly been converted into a hotel without valid permission. Interior rooms were reportedly demolished and divided into smaller rooms to facilitate hotel operations.
Investigators also found that several air-conditioning units had been installed in the building without following the required rules. Police said the additional electrical load placed excessive pressure on the wiring and contributed to the incident. The chargesheet relies on the forensic findings along with witness statements, according to the report.
The property was reportedly rented from Mitra by Abu Zafar for a monthly rent of Rs 40,000. The lease was formally taken in the name of his wife, Saba Zafar. Police arrested Saba Zafar after she was initially reported to be absconding following the fire.
The investigation also examined interactions with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the fire department. Police said applications had been made to the civic body and fire department in some cases, but no valid permission to operate the hotel had been granted. The hotel was therefore allegedly being run without the necessary administrative clearances.
The filing of the chargesheet moves the case from investigation to the next stage of court proceedings. The charges, witness statements and forensic findings will now be considered through the judicial process at Bankshall court.
