LUCKNOW: Aliganj police filed a nearly 500-page chargesheet against four accused in connection with the June 22 Aliganj fire that claimed 15 lives, completing the investigation 87 days after the deadly incident.The chargesheet was submitted before a CJM court against building owner Virendra Prasad Shukla, Ramkrishna Upadhyay, studio operator Suresh Kumar Sahu and Tushank Krishna Jaiswal on Saturday.The chargesheet was filed under the charges of BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (penalises rash act endangering human life) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act.One of the accused, identified as Surendra, remains absconding and police are continuing efforts to trace him.Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.The fire broke out in a building in Sector D of Aliganj on the afternoon of June 22, killing 15 people.The incident triggered serious questions over fire-safety arrangements in the building and alleged lapses in regulatory oversight.Following the incident, an FIR was registered at Aliganj police station against the accused under the charges of BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (penalises rash act endangering human life) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act.The state government subsequently ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by additional chief secretary, tourism and culture department, Amrit Abhijat and additional DG, Lucknow Zone, Praveen Kumar to probe and examine the circumstances surrounding the fire and fix responsibility for the lapses.The SIT submitted its findings to the state government after examining the circumstances of the incident.The investigation also examined alleged violations of safety norms and the responsibilities of those associated with the building and the establishment operating from the premises.The Lucknow Development Authority demolished the four-storey building in Aliganj on July 25.On July 19, Lucknow Sessions Court has ordered police to investigate role of officials of Lucknow Municipal Corporation, Lucknow Development Authority, fire and emergency services and any other public authority if evidence points to negligence or failure in discharging their statutory duties.The observations were made by sessions judge Malkhan Singh while rejecting the anticipatory bail application of Surendra Prasad Shukla, the co-owner of the commercial building where a devastating fire claimed 15 lives and left nine others injured.Following which the police has also incorporated the lapses done by those from the departments concerned.According to the investigation cited by police, the building lacked adequate fire-safety arrangements and safety norms were allegedly ignored.Police arrested the four accused on the day of the incident. Surendra, however, could not be traced and has remained on the run since the case was registered. Police said teams have been conducting searches at possible locations to apprehend him.SHO, Aliganj, Dhruv Kumar said efforts were continuing to arrest the absconding accused and that police expected to take him into custody soon.The June 22 tragedy prompted scrutiny of building approvals, fire-safety compliance and enforcement mechanisms in the city.
