On Monday, Gujarat Police arrested Dhaval Thakkar, the fourth suspect in the Rajkot game zone fire that claimed 27 lives on May 25. Thakkar, who had fled after the incident, was apprehended in Abu Road, Rajasthan.
Authorities have registered a case against six individuals, and three, including the gaming zone owner, have already been arrested. Two suspects remain at large, and police have intensified efforts to capture them.
The Gujarat government suspended seven officials on Monday, citing “gross negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals.” These suspensions were based on a report from the Special Investigation Team, according to State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Several people have been taken into custody, and 17 teams have been formed to arrest others involved.
The DNA verification process for the victims is ongoing, and families will be contacted soon, the Home Minister added.
The suspended officials include Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s assistant engineer Jaideep Chaudhary, assistant town planner Gautam Joshi, Rajkot Roads and Buildings deputy executive engineers MR Suma and Paras Kothiya, and police inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod.
An FIR has been registered against six partners of the game zone and another accused on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Nitin Jain, the manager of the TRP Game Zone, and Yuvraj Singh Solanki, the owner, were previously arrested, and Dhaval Thakkar was arrested on Monday evening.
The Gujarat High Court criticized state authorities, calling the fire a “man-made disaster” and questioning whether the Municipal Corporation ignored the construction of the game zone. The court directed the commissioners since 2021 to submit separate affidavits.
The third cycle of DNA tests is expected to be completed today, and the government will contact families once the matches are confirmed. More than 26 samples were collected, with a total of 55-56 samples to be matched, the Home Minister said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inspected the fire site and directed strict action against those responsible. The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased, while the Centre announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh.
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