CM Devendra Fadnavis orders probe into sinking eatery

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high-level inquiry into the sinking of the floating restaurant ‘Ark Deck Bar’ near the Bandra Worli Sealink on Friday evening.

It was alleged that the restaurant was operating illegally and the Mumbai police and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) officials did not take any action or register an FIR against its owners on Saturday.

The maritime board officers will need to shift the vessel to a safe place on priority after survey, a process, which will take 2-3 days, according to nautical advisor Captain Harish. Meanwhile, MMB officials have already started the inspection of the vessel.

According to city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vivekanand Gupta, the vessel was issued a licence for a passenger boat and the owners were operating a hotel-cum-bar illegally. After the floating restaurant capsized, Mr Fadnavis asked the chief executive officer of the MMB, Vikram Kumar to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the incident, said minister of state Ravindra Chavan.

A committee of maritime experts and technical personnel will be appointed to conduct the probe and the MMB officers will investigate the alleged illegalities of the owners.

After the inquiry report, MMB officers will decide on the course of action as per directions of the CM and will register an FIR against the owners, said senior officers.

Meanwhile Mr Gupta has alleged that the MMB granted a licence to Avior to function as a luxury passenger yacht for 70 people to cruise in Mumbai by operator Ocean Blue. It was taken over by three owners and  charges were levelled against them. The capacity of vessel was increased to 140 passengers and it was renamed ‘Ark Deck Bar’.  The vessel’s insurance is believed to have expired and on May 24, 240 guests were on board, said Mr Gupta.Mean-while, the owners remained unavailable for comment.