Mumbai fire tragedy: Pub owners were insolent despite several BMC notices

Mumbai: The owners of various pubs in the Kamala Mills Compound in Mumbai's Lower Parel, where a devastating fire had on Friday claimed the lives of at least 14 people and left 55 seriously injured, were insolent even after several BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) notices to them for violation of norms.  

It has now come to light that the pub 1Above, which was launched in 2016, was served with at least three notices by the BMC  by October this year for flouting rules.

The BMC notices were issued after it came to light that 1Above had encroached on the open space where the fire broke out. 

The owners of 1Above pub - Hitesh Sanghvi, his brother Jigar Sanghvi and partner Abhijit Manka – had allowed construction of two “illegal rooms on the terrace and covered them with asbestos sheets. 

Similarly, a partition wall was also constructed on the terrace without any permissions or approvals from the BMC.

BMC had so far issued three issued notices to the pub – first on August 4, the second on September 22 and, the third on October 27. 

However, when the owners did not adhere to these notices, the BMC demolished illegal portions but the same were rebuilt later.

Similarly, a BMC notice was also issued to Mojo Bistro led by Yug Pathak, who is the son of a retired IPS officer. 

The owners of Mojo Bistro were issued several notices for constructing an illegal shed on the terrace and smoking in eating the house. 

The shocking details about the defaulter Mumbai pub owners were revealed by Zee Media came on a day when the Mumbai Police lodged three new FIRs against them and issued a lookout notice for the absconders in wake of the blaze in Kamala Mills Compound, which left 14 dead and 55 injured in the wee hours of December 29.

The BMC had lodged a complaint against MoJo pub and 1 Above restaurant at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station on Saturday. 

Mumbai Police also set up five teams to trace the owners of 1Above pub, Hitesh Sanghvi, his brother Jigar Sanghvi and partner Abhijit Manka, and Yug Pathak, a co-owner of The Mojos Bistro.

Simultaneously, police have issued "look-out notice" to prevent them from leaving the country, while police teams have gone to Pune and other cities to hunt for them, the official said.

Additionally, following a complaint by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP), police have lodged an FIR against the owner of Kamala Mills, Ramesh Govani and others who are still not traceable.

(With Agency inputs)