Police admit probe in 'active stage, but key agencies remain unexamined

The Delhi Police have told the Delhi High Court that their investigation into the July 4 Karol Bagh fire, in which two men, including a UPSC aspirant, lost their lives, remains at an “active stage”. However, officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), BSES and other agencies tasked with monitoring such establishments have not yet been questioned.

In their affidavit, the police also submitted the response of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), which stated: “The cause of fire is not investigated by DFS and no property-loss assessment is carried out by DFS.”

The plea, moved by NGO Kutumb through Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, has accused authorities of collusion and gross negligence, arguing that the fire was a direct result of failure to enforce fire safety protocols and unchecked licensing of commercial units in congested areas.

Delhi Police, in its affidavit, said: “Reports from FSL, Rohini, MCD and certain allied agencies are awaited. The investigation is at an active stage and is being pursued with utmost diligence to determine the cause of the fire and fix responsibility in accordance with law.”

The MCD, in its reply, have claimed that a letter to disconnect electricity and water supply to the building had already been issued back in 2011.

Meanwhile, police in its affidavit admitted a “delay of 35 days” in filing its reply, citing the “serious loss of life and property” and the need for “extensive enquiries and coordination with multiple agencies.” “The delay, thus, is purely procedural and occasioned in the course of bona fide investigation,” it said.

Speaking with The Tribune, petitioner advocate, said since the inception of this incident Delhi Police is trying to save Vishal Mega Mart for some interested reasons best known to them.

"Filing of FIR in bogus sections, after a delay of 18 hours, and failure to investigate in the right direction or lodge an FIR on the deceased’s brother’s complaint clearly show the ill motive of the police.In similar fire incidents, police have invoked sections of culpable homicide, but here only negligence was cited," Singh claimed.