Rajkot Town Planning Officer M. D. Sagathiya and Deputy Engineer Mukesh Makwana are suspended from their service in the fallout of the horrible fire tragedy, which took 27 lives on 25th May.
TPO Sagathiya has been a permanent fixture in the town planning department for ten years, even though as many as six municipal commissioners have been changed during the same time.
Sagathiya was arrested after the unfortunate fire broke out at the TRP Game Zone, which was allowed to operate despite flaunting the norms and regulations. Mukesh Makwana, a deputy engineer who worked at the town planning department earlier, was also held at the same time.
The reports reveal that the conniving officers turned a blind eye to at least 692 illegal constructions in Rajkot, which are potentially accident-prone. The modus operandi indicates serving customary notice and not taking any follow-up action, allegedly, in return for favour. The reports showing huge investments and properties in the possession of Sagathiya and the family also cast doubts about his disproportionate assets compared to his known source of income.
The TRP Gaming Zone, where the unfortunate incident occurred, was allowed to operate without having required permissions such as a no-objection certificate, an approved layout plan, a building-use certificate, and the proper fire clearances.
Police had earlier arrested four partners of the firm that ran the game zone, namely Yuvrajsinh Solanki, Rahul Rathod, Dhaval Thakkar, Kiritsinh Jadeja, and the manager, Nitin Jain. The DNA test of those who perished in the fire revealed that Prakash Hiran also lost his life in the fire.
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