Kamala Mills fire: No relief for pub owners, bail plea of 5 accused rejected

MUMBAI: The bail plea of owners of Mojo Bistro and One Above pub has been rejected in connection with the fire that took place in Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai In December.

The five accused - Mojo Bistro owners Yug Tuli, Yug Pathak and One Above owners Abhijit Mankar, Jigar Sanghvi and Kripesh Sanghvi - have been arrested in connection with the massive fire tragedy that took place on December 29 which claimed the lives of 14 people. 

Earlier on January 23, a Mumbai court had remanded Ramesh Gowani, co-owner of Kamala Mills compound, in police custody till January 29. Govani had been evading arrest after the fire. 

His arrest came a day after a mill director Ravi S. Bhandari was arrested.

Besides, police also nabbed on Sunday Fire Officer Rajendra Patil and an owner of Nirvana Hookah Parlour Utkarsh Pandey.

According to the Mumbai municipal commissioner's report, flying embers from hookah which was illegally served at Mojo's Bistro started the fire.

Illegal alterations at these two adjoining roof-top pubs aggravated the situation, it said, adding that owners of Kamala Mills compound too were responsible for allowing illegal use of the terrace by the two pubs.