Kolkata: The Kolkata Police Special Investigation Team is likely to file its charge sheet next week in the Shikha Inn hotel fire case.The fire broke out at the hotel in New Market on August 19. Nine people died, including eight guests and one hotel employee. Several of the dead were Bangladeshi nationals. Sixteen others were injured and taken to SSKM Hospital.Forensic reports have confirmed that the fire started from an electrical plug board on the third floor of the five-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street. The flames spread quickly because of old and damaged wiring. Police said flammable interior decoration inside the hotel helped the fire spread faster and created thick toxic smoke, which filled five rooms.After the fire, New Market police started a case on their own. The deputy commissioner of police, detective department, then formed a six-member SIT with Lalbazar detectives.The charge sheet is expected to name Abu Jafar, who ran the hotel on lease, as the main accused. His wife, Saba Jafar, was recently arrested by the detective department. Hotel owner Bireshwar Ray has also been arrested. Ray also owns properties in Digha and Mandarmani.Police are likely to charge the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by negligence and under state fire safety laws.Investigators said Ray bought the 1,100-square-foot third-floor flat in 2017. He later applied to Kolkata Municipal Corporation for basic renovation work, but allegedly used legal loopholes to convert the flat into five guest rooms without proper permission.The property was later leased to Abu Jafar during the pandemic, when business was slow. Police said the converted space had serious safety problems. It had poor ventilation, only one narrow entry and exit route, and combustible interior panels.The hotel had a basic trade licence, but did not have the required civic or fire department permits. It also did not have basic firefighting equipment. Police said electrical maintenance was handled by an unlicensed local mechanic, leaving the wiring old and unsafe.Investigators said these failures showed serious negligence by both the owner and the leaseholder, and directly led to the deaths and injuries.Police also searched Ray’s second hotel opposite Shikha Inn but did not find any fire licence. Searches at his home and at his properties in Digha and Mandarmani also did not produce any fire safety documents. Police have informed the East Midnapore superintendent of police and contacted the local fire department there.BOXChargesheet Imminent | Kolkata Police’s SIT may submit a charge sheet next week for the Aug 19 Shikha Inn hotel fire that killed nine, including Bangladeshi nationalsForensic Findings | Forensics confirmed an electrical plug board triggered the blaze, spreading rapidly via outdated wiring and flammable interior decorAccused Named | Charges target leaseholder Abu Jafar, his wife Saba Jafar, and owner Bireshwar Ray under BNS and fire safety lawsWidespread Lapses | Inspections revealed unlicensed alterations, lack of ventilation, missing fire permits, and missing fire licenses across Ray’s other properties
