The Bengaluru Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic body governing Karnataka’s capital, has issued a notice to former India captain Virat Kohli’s M.G. Road restaurant-pub, ‘One8 Commune,’ over alleged fire safety violations, according to sources.
The restaurant, situated on the sixth floor of Ratnam’s Complex near the Chinnaswamy Stadium—home ground of Kohli’s IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)—is reportedly operating without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department.
Social activists H.M. Venkatesh and Kunigal Narasimhamurthy initially lodged a complaint, prompting the BBMP to issue a notice on 29th November. However, the restaurant has yet to respond. In a subsequent notice, the Health Officer of BBMP’s Shanthinagar Division gave the establishment a seven-day deadline to provide clarification. Failure to comply will result in legal action, the notice warned.
Complainant Venkatesh highlighted the risks posed by establishments flouting fire safety norms. “Many restaurants, bars, and pubs in high-rise buildings across Bengaluru are operating without any fire safety measures in place. In the past, fire accidents in Bengaluru have led to significant loss of life and injuries. For instance, during the Carlton Towers fire caused by a short circuit, people jumped off the building in an attempt to save their lives,” he said.
Venkatesh further noted that audits conducted by the BBMP and Fire Department had identified several buildings without proper fire safety measures, prompting rules against granting licenses or permitting operations in such premises. Despite these regulations, he alleged, violations persist.
“One8 Commune, located in a high-rise building at Ratnam’s Complex, also lacks fire safety measures. We raised this issue with the BBMP by filing a complaint. While they have issued a notice, it remains to be seen how proactive BBMP and the Fire Department will be in ensuring safety and enforcing these measures,” Venkatesh stated.
This is not the first controversy surrounding One8 Commune. In July, an FIR was registered against the restaurant for operating past the 1 a.m. deadline. The complaint alleged the establishment was serving customers as late as 1:20 a.m.
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