Kamala Mills fire: Mojo’s Bistro owner, mill owner, director file bail pleas

Previously, Pathak’s plea, where he had questioned the admissibility of the fire brigade report, was rejected by the magistrate court.

The owner of Mojo’s Bistro, Yug Pathak, on Tuesday, submitted his bail plea before the sessions court, claiming that flying hookah embers, which allegedly caused the fire in the two restaurants at Kamala Mills, was an “Act of God” and he cannot be held responsible for it. The owner of hookah supply firm Nirvana, Utkarsh Pandey; Kamala Mills owner – Ramesh Govani — and Kamala Mills director, Ravi Bhandari, have also moved separate bail pleas.

A major fire broke out at Kamala Mills compound on December 29, killing 14 people. (HT File)

Previously, Pathak’s plea, where he had questioned the admissibility of the fire brigade report, was rejected by the magistrate court. The fire department had investigated the possible causes of the fire which gutted the two restaurants, killed 14 people and injured 55 guests on December 29. The department said that the fire started from Mojo’s Bistro which later spread to the adjoining restaurant 1Above. The report also stated that the possible cause of the fire was the flying embers from the hookahs being served to the guests at Mojo’s.

Pathak said that the report only suggested possible causes and is not conclusive. Pathak, who has also been booked for unauthorised constructions in the restaurant,claimed “the alleged unauthorised construction at Mojo’s Bistro is in no manner connected to the deaths caused in 1Above.”

The family members of the victims have also filed a plea seeking intervention into the hearing of the bail pleas of the accused.