Kolkata Police's Detective Department arrested Abu Zafar, the leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn, from his Entally residence late Wednesday night. The arrest comes following a devastating early-morning fire at the Mirza Ghalib Street establishment that claimed nine lives, including several Bangladeshi nationals, primarily due to severe smoke inhalation. Authorities have also detained two hotel employees—a manager and a staff member—for extensive questioning regarding operations and safety compliances.
Initial investigations and forensic evaluations suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an AC compressor explosion, though official confirmation is pending. Witnesses and inspectors noted severe safety violations within the building, pointing out a complete absence of working fire extinguishers and functional emergency exits. Autopsies for the victims are scheduled to be conducted on Thursday to confirm the exact causes of death.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of Hotel Shikha Inn. Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey announced a comprehensive safety drive across all 16 city boroughs starting August 25 to inspect commercial properties, hotels, and markets. A five-member joint committee comprising officials from the police, fire department, CESC, KMDA, and KMC has been constituted to submit a complete safety audit report within one month.