Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demands narco test of all fire accused

Mumbai: Leader of the opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, on Friday wrote a letter to the governor demanding that the owners of resto pubs Mojo’s Bistro and 1Above and the owners of Lower Parel’s Kamala Mills compound undergo a narco test. He even demanded a similar test for BMC officers whose names have been mentioned in the inquiry report of the BMC commissioner and fire officer Rajendra Patil.

Mr Vikhe-Patil wrote to the governor in the backdrop of the fire that broke out at Kamala Mill compound, claiming 14 lives. In a letter to Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Vikhe-Patil said that a narco test of all accused in the December 29 Kamala Mill fire would help nail the political leaders and civic officials who were ‘conspirators’.

In his letter, the Congress leader wrote, “A narco test will expose persons under whose protection illegal and unauthorised constructions are taking place in the city. Mumbai faces the threat of another incident like the Kamala Mills fire and the need of the hour is to expose the nexus of the corrupt.”

The opposition leader said that he was making the demand based on a news report that the owners of Mojo’s Bistro and 1Above reportedly confessed to the police that they often bribed civic officials whenever they got a notice for illegalities. Mr Vikhe-Patil urged the governor to give directions to the  state to order a narco test of all the accused .

Earlier, the opposition leader met the governor and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. He even alleged that BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta was responsible for the fire and threatened to go to court.