Rajkot Game Zone Fire : Four senior officials arrested

RAJKOT,GUJARAT : The Rajkot Crime Branch has arrested four officials in connection with the TRP Game Zone fire tragedy. The arrested individuals include Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) Town Planning Officer (TPO) M.D. Sagathiya, Assistant Town Planning Officers Gautam Joshi and Mukesh Makwana, and Fire Station Officer Rohit Vigora. These arrests come as their names were added to the police complaint filed earlier in the case.

The investigation revealed that TPO Sagathiya had issued a notice last year to demolish the illegal metal structure of the game zone but subsequently took no action. Sagathiya, perceived as one of the most corrupt officers in the RMC, has faced significant scrutiny. Rajya Sabha MP Ram Mokariya, in his discussions with various news channels, described Sagathiya’s corruption, mentioning how he had even made representations against him within the party and the government. Media reports over the past two days have showcased massive farmhouses and petrol pumps allegedly owned by Sagathiya, presumably acquired through corrupt means.

Sagathiya’s assistant officials, Gautam Joshi and Mukesh Makwana, have also been arrested. Station Fire Officer Rohit Vigora is implicated for his failure to act against the illegal game zone structure, which lacked fire safety clearance yet continued to operate without any enforcement for years.

In addition to the arrests, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating the disproportionate assets of these officials. On the day of the arrests, the ACB conducted searches at the residences of Fire Officer Theba and TPO Sagathiya. The investigations aim to uncover the extent of their illicit gains and bring transparency to the operations within the RMC.

The Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire tragedy has cast a spotlight on the systemic corruption within the RMC. The lack of enforcement of safety regulations by these officials has been a focal point of public outrage. The arrests mark a critical step towards accountability and justice for the victims of the fire tragedy.

Rajya Sabha MP Ram Mokariya emphasized the need for stringent actions against corrupt officials, stating, “The negligence and corruption that led to this tragedy must be thoroughly investigated. We owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”