Ribeiro files PIL in Mumbai fire case

Former supercop Julio Ribeiro on Tuesday filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court seeking probe by a commission of inquiry into the fire incident at 1Above and Mojo's Bistro restaurants and restobars in the Kamala Mills compound which claimed 14 lives, including 11 women.

Ribeiro, 88, has served as the commissioner of police in Mumbai, director general of police of Punjab and Gujarat, and Indian Ambassador to Romania.

The PIL files assumes significance after the Mumbai police and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation differed on the origin of fire. While NM Joshi Marg police station concluded that the fire started from 1Above restaurant, the Mumbai fire brigade pinpoints Mojo's Bistro.

The anti-corrpution crusader and activist pointed out in his PIL that the commission of inquiry must probe into all aspects of fire.

Besides, he demanded a compulsory fire audit of all pubs, restaurants, hotels and eateries all over the city to avoid similar incidents. He also demanded that a senior police officer probe corrupt civic officials and take stringent action against them.

Ribeiro filed the PIL through advocates Sujay Kantawala and Ashish Mehta.