Karia who allegely helped pub owners flee sent to police custody till January 17

Mumbai: A metropolitan magistrate court of Bhoiwada has sent accused Vishal Karia, a hotelier and alleged cricket bookie to police custody till January 17 in connection with the Kamala Mills fire. Karia was arrested by the police for allegedly helping the three absconding co-owners of 1 Above restobar. An FIR was registered after a fire gutted 1 Above and Mojo’s Bistro restobars at Kamla Mills compound in Lower Parel on December 29. Fourteen people had died including 11 women, and 31 were injured in the fire. The police has arrested two managers of 1 above and Yug Pathak, the owner of Mojo’s bistro.

“The role of the accused is yet to be decided, and it will come out when the investigation officer will file its final report, therefore the accused will have to be sent in police custody till January 17”, said magistrate R.M. Karade.

Public Prosecutor Sanjay Vadhavane argued that a car of Abhijeet Mankar, co-owner of the 1 Above restobar was found at the Juhu residence of Vishal Karia. The police believes that Karia had helped Mankar and other two accused to abscond. The public prosector also said that Karia is the only person who knows whereabouts of absconding accused and CCTV footage of the premises is yet to be recovered and examined, hence maximum police custody should be awarded to Karia. Mr Vadhavane also informed the court that section 304 culpable homicide not amounting to murder has invoked against the Karia.

The police argued, “if accused has no connection with the crime then he should have informed us, but the accused never informed us that car was parked in his premises, therefore, we have doubts over Karia’s claims.”