Gujarat police have arrested four government officials, including town planning officer in connection with the fire at the Rajkot TRP game zone which claimed 27 lives on May 25.
The Crime Branch arrested four officers of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) on May 30 on charges of criminal negligence which includes Town Planning Officer (TPO) M D Sagathia, assistant TPOs Mukesh Makwana and Gautam Joshi, and former station officer of Kalavad Road fire station Rohit Vigora.
At least 27 people, including nine children, were killed in the tragic incident.
"Four government officials have been arrested," confirmed state Director General of Police Vikas Sahay.
The four persons are the first public servants to be arrested in this case, and with this, nine people have been arrested for the fire so far.
Four owners of the amusement center, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, Rahul Rathod, Dhaval Thakkar and Kiritsinh Jadeja are among five people who have been arrested in the case. The fifth accused, Prakash Hiran, lost his life in the fire, after a DNA test confirmed his death earlier this week. The manager of TRP game zone, Nitin Jain, is also in police custody.
The accused have been charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (culpable homicide), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt by an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt to a person by doing an act that endangers their life or personal safety) and 114 (someone present when the offence is committed).
The SIT, set up to probe the fire, will also question senior IAS and IPS officials if needed, the team’s chief, Subhash Trivedi said.
"We have been instructed to probe the roles of officers associated with Rajkot Municipal Corporation, fire department, police and power utility firm and take stern action if they are found guilty, Trivedi said.
The Rajkot Police are investigating the case separately.
Meanwhile, the Rajkot Municipal Commissioner, Anand Patel, and Police Commissioner, Raju Bhargava, have been transferred.
