Factory owners, landlady were aware premises was vulnerable to fire: Police chargesheet in Alipur blaze that killed 11

The chargesheet was filed before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Neha Gupta on April 1.

Those named in the chargesheet include Ashok Jain, owner of Ashok Paints and Chemicals who was killed in the fire, his son Akhil Jain, owner of Madhav Paints and Chemicals, and Rajrani, the landlady. Both the firms of the father-son duo operated from the same space.

Police said a total of 49 witnesses have been examined till date and the supplementary chargesheet in the case is pending. While Akhil Jain is still in judicial custody, Rajrani was granted bail in view of her advanced age.

Police are learnt to have stated in the chargesheet that the factory had been running in the residential area for the past 20 years. According to the chargesheet, “Akhil and Ashok Jain were owners of the factory…they were having knowledge of the fact that the paint factory could catch fire any time which could result in the death of nearby residents and workers. Despite knowing this… they did not follow any safety measures or precautions.”

The chargesheet further stated that Rajrani was also aware of the fact that the factory was illegal “but due to greed of rent, she leased out the said premises to the co-accused persons”.

The accused have been chargesheeted under IPC section 304 (Whoever commits culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide).

‘Fire started from welding sparks’

Police said the fire was triggered by sparks from welding work taking place outside the factory; the sparks came in contact with the inflammable paint being manufactured inside. Eventually, the blaze spread inside one of the rooms storing several drums containing paint thinners. The containers blew up and the roof of the building collapsed within 30 minutes of the start of the fire.