In a significant development related to the devastating fire at the TRP gaming zone in Rajkot that claimed at least 30 lives, two former municipal commissioners have been given a clean chit. The Gujarat High Court’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) Committee has cleared Anand Patel and Amit Arora of any involvement in the tragedy.
The Truth-finding Committee, comprising Manisha Chandra, P. Swaroop, and Rajkumar Benival, concluded that the former IAS officers had no role in the fire incident.
The committee’s findings also cleared the four senior officials who had attended a birthday party at the TRP gaming zone.
The report clarifies that the responsibility for demolishing illegal constructions rested with the Town Planning (TP) branch, not the municipal commissioners, due to powers granted years ago.
The Gujarat High Court has received the report and attention is now focused on the court’s forthcoming decision on the matter.
Following the fire incident on May 25, the government formed an SIT to probe the incident. The SIT’s comprehensive 100-page report implicated the gaming zone operators and officials from the municipal corporation and revenue department.
The incident gained additional attention due to a photograph circulating on social media, showing the then-serving IAS and IPS officers at the gaming zone during a birthday celebration for IPS officer Praveen Kumar Meena in 2022. The photo has raised questions about the presence of high-ranking officials at the scene of the tragedy.
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