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Lucknow: Police have filed a nearly 500-page chargesheet against four accused in connection with the June 22 fire at a commercial complex in Aliganj fire that claimed 15 lives. The investigation was completed in 87 days. The chargesheet has been filed under the charges of Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (penalises rash act endangering human life) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act. Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. The fire broke out in a building in Sector D of Aliganj on the afternoon of June 22. The Lucknow Development Authority demolished the four-storey building in Aliganj on July 25. On July 19, a Lucknow court ordered police to investigate role of officials of LMC, LDA, fire and emergency services and any other public authority if evidence points to negligence or failure in discharging their statutory duties.
The building lacked adequate fire-safety arrangements and safety norms were ignored, according to police probe. One accused, Surendra, remains absconding. The incident triggered serious questions over fire-safety arrangements in the building and lapses in regulatory oversight.
UP govt formed a Special Investigation Team led by additional chief secretary, Amrit Abhijat, and ADG Lucknow zone, Praveen Kumar , to probe and examine the circumstances surrounding the fire and fix responsibility for the lapses.