One more detained for Sultanpuri factory fire, unit had no licence

NEWDELHI: A day after four workers were killed in a shoe factory fire in outer Delhi’s Sultanpuri, police have detained the father of the factory owner as the building out of which the illegal unit was operating belongs to him. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the unit did not have the necessary licence and registration.

Police said they have found that Biresh Gupta had allowed his son Nitesh to run the factory out of the building that is registered as a residential structure. “Some negligence on the father’s part has emerged. If found guilty, we will book him as well,” an investigating officer said.

Officials of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) confirmed on Tuesday that the factory owner had not obtained trade licence from the corporation. “On initial investigation it was found that the owner was running the premises without obtaining a factory licence,” a corporation official said. Police have also found that the factory was not registered with the department of industries. The owner, however, had registered it as a private company and had obtained a GST (goods and services tax) number, police said.

Preliminary probe into the case has revealed that the building owner was drawing more than the sanctioned power. “It seems the overload led to a shortcircuit. Adhesives, and other inflammable materials caused the blaze to spread and engulfed the building,” the officer said.

Preety Agarwal, mayor, North Corporation said, “We have asked for report from concerned department on this issue in next two days. After that we will give details of the incident.”