Mumbai: Bharat Gandhi, the architect who designed the two resto bars, 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro, at Kamala Mills compound, has been traced in Mumbai and given two days’ time to present the documents, following which he will be questioned about his role, if any, in the unauthorised extensions.
Ahmed Pathan, senior police inspector of NM Joshi police station said, “Mr Gandhi is in Mumbai, and will soon come down to the police station to record a statement.
He has also been asked to present the blueprints of the project that was undertaken at 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro, with a fire having started at the latter bar on December 28 that killed 14 persons and injured 55 others.”An officer said on the condition of anonymity that Mr Gandhi was expected to visit the police station and record his statement before Sunday.
Police sources said that the report submitted by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta to CM Devendra Fadnavis on January 18 stated that criminal action should be initiated against the architect.
According to the report, the police arrested the owners of Kamala Mills and the fire brigade official who allegedly submitted a false report. But the architect was reported to have been absconding, and was only later traced to the suburban part of the city.
According to the BMC’s probe report, Mr Gandhi did not submit the plan online in 2017 for subdivision and also did not visit the site after additions were made in 2017. In his statement, Mr Gandhi said that Raju, a draftsman in his office, submitted the design proposal on his behalf.
Raju is also an architect, from Kerala. In case of site inspection after new alterations, Mr Gandhi gave the same reason to the BMC.
