Police suspects fire officer Patil's report was false
The fire officer had submitted his report on the resto pubs on December 23 last year, a day after he allegedly inspected the two sites.
Mumbai: The NM Joshi police is probing whether fire officer Rajendra Patil, who was arrested on Saturday in the Kamala Mills fire tragedy case, had personally inspected the two resto pubs 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro before giving them the NOC and certifying that they had complied with all fire-safety protocols. Patil had submitted his report, which the police suspect to be false. The fire officer had submitted his report on the resto pubs on December 23 last year, a day after he allegedly inspected the two sites.
The police is questioning him to find out who all were involved in the making of the false report and identity of those who abetted his act, said sources. The fire brigade may also take action against the officer if the police probe establishes any wrongdoing on his part.
Chief fire officer Prabhat Rahandle said, “Officially, we don’t know about the matter and how he submitted the report. If the police investigation proves Patil’s fault, then we will take serious action against him immediately.” According to the police, the fire department had failed to carry out a fire safety audit of the commercial establishments in Kamla Mills.
According to the BMC’s fire probe report, Patil had allegedly issued an NOC to the 1Above Restaurant on December 23 after his site visit on December 22 and attached photographs of the terrace where the covering of the same is not seen as reported on Saturday by The Asian Age.
The NM Joshi police on Sunday got the custody of Patil and two other accused till January 25.