The Rajkot City Police Wednesday filed a chargesheet, running into over one lakh pages, in connection with TRP Game Zone fire in Rajkot against 15 accused, including Rajkot chief fire officer Ilesh Kher, town planner MD Sagathiya and five gaming zone owners, stating their “negligence led to the incident”. The chargesheet was filed in the court of judicial magistrate first class, two months after the blaze killed 27 people. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Parthrajsinh Gohil told the media, “During investigation, 15 accused were arrested. After collecting evidence against them, a chargesheet has been filed with the honourable court against them,” Gohil said. “The chargesheet runs into more than one lakh pages,” he added. Those who have been charged include TRP Game Zone owners Dhaval Thakkar, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, Rahul Rathod, Ashoksinh Jadeja and his younger brother Kiritsinh Jadeja and amusement park manager Nitin Jain alias Nitin Lodha and Rahul’s uncle Mahesh Rathod who had got the contract to do additional fabrication for adding a snow park to the outdoor-and indoor gaming facilities. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) officers who have been charged include Kher, his deputy Bhikha Theba, Sagathiya, assistant town planners Mukesh Makwana, Gautam Joshi and Rajesh Makwana, RMC town planning department assistant engineer Jaydip Chaudhary and fire officer in-charge of RMC’s fire station on Kalavad Road Rohit Vigora under whose jurisdiction the gaming zone was located. Gohil said as part of its investigation, the special investigation team (SIT) recorded statements of 365 witnesses and judicial confessions of more than 30 people. “We filed the chargesheet against whom evidence of criminal negligence was found,” said the DCP. “We have scrutinised financial transactions of one of the key operators (of the game zone) Prakash Hiran. A chartered accountant is auditing the banking transactions, IT returns, GST returns of the accused and we will adduce it as evidence in due course of time,” he said. Forensic examination of signatures on government documents will also be used as evidence, he added. Gohil said the chargesheet highlights that extensive use of flammable material like foam sheets and wooden planks as heat insulator in the tin shed of TRP Game Zone meant that the fire, which was caused by sparks generated during welding work on May 25, became an inferno within three to four minutes. “However, no evidence has been found indicating the presence of petrol or diesel there. The forensic science laboratory report also has arrived at the same conclusion. Analysis of CCTV footage also doesn’t show any consignment of petrol or diesel being there,” said Gohil.
