Arrested builder in cop custody till August 27

MUMBAI:THE police on Thursday got the custody of Crystals Tower developer, Razak Ismail Supariwala, who was arrested on Wednesday night after a fire in the building claimed four lives, until August 27 on the grounds that “there was a likelihood of involvement of more persons in the case of culpable homicide”.

The police told the metropolitan court in Bhoiwada they needed to investigate other departments in the case and look into the steps taken by BMC in the past six years, when the residents moved into the redeveloped 16-storey structure. “There is no doubt of other people’s involvement in the case. We need to investigate the departments concerned,” the police said, adding they will seek a detailed report from the fire brigade department.

While there was no public prosecutor in the courtroom to present the case before magistrate P Deshmane, Bhoiwada police inspector Sushilkumar Gaikwad presented the case. The building did not have an occupation certificate (OC) from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, he said.

“There was no fire compliance either. There was no fire-fighting system in the building, despite the fact such incidents are common in a city like Mumbai,” Gaikwad told the court.

The police said the developer had not taken necessary precautions, which aided in spreading of the fire. He also carried out alterations on the eighth floor without BMC’S permission, the police said.

The defence, however, claimed there has been no complaint of illegal construction on the eighth floor. The civic body had even carried out demolition of a flat constructed in the refuge area illegally, police sources said.

Supariwala’s lawyer blamed the residents. “Fire-fighting equipment was installed after the construction was completed in 2012. After the residents moved in, a society was not formed. It was the job of the residents to maintain the fire equipment,” the lawyer said.