Kamala Mills fire: Mojo's Bistro pub owners booked for culpable homicide

The owners of Mojo's Bistro pub, that witnessed a deadly fire incident on December 29, have been booked for culpable homicide.

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MUMBAI: A day after announcing a reward on proving information about the whereabouts of the owners of the 1Above pub in the Kamala Mills Compound, the Mumbai Police on Saturday booked the owners of Mojo's Bistro pub for culpable homicide. 

On Friday, Mumbai's fire department in its report said it was, in fact, a lit charcoal used in a hookah at Mojo's Bistro Restaurant that resulted in the blaze and gradually spread to '1Above' pub, a storey above in the Kamala Mills Compund here on December 29. 

The fire department also claimed that Mojo's Bistro could not produce any documents from competent authority which is required to run a business.

Meanwhile, the '1 Above' pub owners, Kripesh Mansukhlal Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Mankar, have been absconding ever since the 'deadly' fire incident took place.

On Monday, the police arrested two persons - Kevin Bawa and Libson Lopez - who worked as managers at '1Above' pub.

An offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under sections 304, 337, 338, 34 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the three at the NM Joshi Marg police station following the incident.

An official said that police teams were trying to track the three and a lookout notice had also been issued.

Earlier, it was speculated that the blaze initially started in the upscale '1 Above' pub situated in the compound and then spread to another pub and media offices located on the premises. 

"We call for a detailed report from the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation. In the event you (the commissioner) fail to submit the required information on or before January 29, the commission may proceed to take further action as it deems fit and proper," said MSHRC chairperson S R Bannurmath in an order.

In his complaint filed on January 1, he had said gross violations of fire safety rules and norms had resulted in the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the police is trying to track all the absconding pub owners at Kamala Mills Compound and have also released a lookout notice against them.