Kapil Dave
GANDHINAGAR: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed to probe the Rajkot TRP Gaming Zone Inferno case, has suggested changes to section 33 of Gujarat Police Act (GP Act), which empowers local police to give various licenses to such game zones. The 100-page interim report indicted officers of the police, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC), and roads and buildings (R&B) department for not observing laid down statutes, in its second report submitted to the state government on Friday.
“We submitted an interim report to the government today. We found lapses on the part of the police, fire department, town planning and road and building department. We have collected relevant evidence about their negligence and drawn the government’s attention towards it through our report,” SIT chief Subhash Trivedi said.
He added, “The SIT has suggested some changes to section 33 of the Gujarat Police Act, under which local police gives premises license and ticket license to such recreation facilities. We will not spare the guilty. The SIT probe is still on. We are currently investigating the roles played by senior police as well as civic officials.”
The SIT observed in its report that civic authorities flouted common GDCR norms, the R&B department provided overall certifications without proper inspections and the fire department granted NOC despite the gaming zone not meeting requirements, sources privy to the report said. The SIT mentioned in its report that the TRP Gaming Zone fire incident on May 25, which claimed the lives of 27 persons, took place even as a demolition notice was issued to the entertainment zone a year and a half ago, following a fire incident.
The SIT underscored apathy by the administration as no demolition as carried out by the civic authorities despite the first fire incident wherein several violations were detected.
Regarding the pictures of the then superintendent of police of Rajkot, district collector, municipal commissioner of Rajkot and district development officer attending the inaugural ceremony of TRP Game Zone, the SIT chief said these officers went there nearly one year after it was inaugurated.
“We have already questioned four IAS and one IPS officer who had visited the game zone in the past and got themselves clicked there. These officers told the SIT they went there with their family members in March 2022 to celebrate the birthday of one of the officers. It was not the opening event of the game zone as is being claimed,” said Trivedi.
He added that the SIT will interrogate other IAS and IPS officers if needed before concluding the probe.
During a hearing on a suo motu PIL taken up by the Gujarat High Court over the game zone fire, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal had then slammed the government and asked why no action was taken against these senior officials who had attended the opening ceremony of TRP Game Zone.
As many as 27 persons were charred to death in a massive fire which gutted the entire facility on May 25. A subsequent investigation by police revealed the game zone was running without an NOC from the fire department of the RMC.
“We submitted an interim report to the government today. We found lapses on the part of the police, fire department, town planning and road and building department. We have collected relevant evidence about their negligence and drawn the government’s attention towards it through our report,” SIT chief Subhash Trivedi said.
He added, “The SIT has suggested some changes to section 33 of the Gujarat Police Act, under which local police gives premises license and ticket license to such recreation facilities. We will not spare the guilty. The SIT probe is still on. We are currently investigating the roles played by senior police as well as civic officials.”
The SIT observed in its report that civic authorities flouted common GDCR norms, the R&B department provided overall certifications without proper inspections and the fire department granted NOC despite the gaming zone not meeting requirements, sources privy to the report said. The SIT mentioned in its report that the TRP Gaming Zone fire incident on May 25, which claimed the lives of 27 persons, took place even as a demolition notice was issued to the entertainment zone a year and a half ago, following a fire incident.
The SIT underscored apathy by the administration as no demolition as carried out by the civic authorities despite the first fire incident wherein several violations were detected.
Regarding the pictures of the then superintendent of police of Rajkot, district collector, municipal commissioner of Rajkot and district development officer attending the inaugural ceremony of TRP Game Zone, the SIT chief said these officers went there nearly one year after it was inaugurated.
“We have already questioned four IAS and one IPS officer who had visited the game zone in the past and got themselves clicked there. These officers told the SIT they went there with their family members in March 2022 to celebrate the birthday of one of the officers. It was not the opening event of the game zone as is being claimed,” said Trivedi.
He added that the SIT will interrogate other IAS and IPS officers if needed before concluding the probe.
During a hearing on a suo motu PIL taken up by the Gujarat High Court over the game zone fire, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal had then slammed the government and asked why no action was taken against these senior officials who had attended the opening ceremony of TRP Game Zone.
As many as 27 persons were charred to death in a massive fire which gutted the entire facility on May 25. A subsequent investigation by police revealed the game zone was running without an NOC from the fire department of the RMC.