Mumbai fire case: Virar hospital’s top executives sent to judicial custody

Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde visits the hospital in Virar on Friday

Vasai court on Wednesday remanded accused in the pre-dawn fire at Vijay Vallabh Hospital that was dedicated for COVID-19 treatment, in judicial custody. The hospital's Managing Director and CEO Dr Dilip Shah and Chief Administrative Officer Dr Shailesh Pathak have been sent to Thane Central Prison. A total of 15 patients were killed following the fire on Friday.

Police investigation found that the hospital did not have trained firefighters, NOC from the fire department, and it had not conducted a fire risk audit. It had also recently terminated the contract with a private fire agency, RAV Fire Services.

"The hospital does not have documents to prove that they hired a new private fire agency after terminating the contract with RAV. It was in touch with Bright Infra System Private System, but hadn't signed any contract," said a Crime Branch officer privy to the investigation.

The officer added that the statements of more than 30 people, including nurses and other hospital employees, and immediate relatives of the deceased, have been recorded till date. Sources told mid-day that the electrical department submitted its report to the Crime Branch on Wednesday. "We have received the report from the electrical inspector whom we had called to understand the technical jargons in the report," said the officer.

"A few clarifications from the fire department as well as the electrical department are awaited. Based on their reports, we will be able to understand the sequence of the incident," the officer added.