Kolkata's Building Collapse Sparks Legal Action Against Former Mayor and Councillors

Legal Action Initiated Over Fatal Warehouse Collapse

Kolkata: The Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Cell (BJMC) has filed a police complaint requesting the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim and ex-councillors Anwar Khan and Shams Iqbal. The complaint alleges their involvement in allowing illegal constructions that may have contributed to recent building and warehouse collapses in the city, according to a senior police official.

The BJMC lodged the complaint at the Taratala police station on Thursday, following a tragic warehouse collapse on Transport Depot Road that resulted in at least 16 fatalities.

In the complaint, the organization claims that the ongoing incidents of building and warehouse collapses in the Kolkata Port area stem from unauthorized constructions, severe negligence, and potential criminal conspiracy. They are calling for a thorough investigation into the actions of Hakim, Khan, and Iqbal, who were councillors for ward numbers 80 and 134, respectively.

The complainants are also demanding the immediate filing of an FIR, the identification of all individuals responsible for the alleged illegal constructions, and legal action against the three former officials. They have urged authorities to inspect other potentially unsafe structures in the vicinity to avert future disasters.

A senior officer from the Kolkata Police confirmed that the complaint has been received but noted that no FIR has been filed yet.

"We have acknowledged the written complaint, and it is currently under review. The claims made will be verified following established legal protocols. If necessary, appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry," the officer stated.

He further explained that the submission of a complaint does not guarantee the immediate registration of an FIR, as police are currently evaluating the details before making a decision.

Copies of the complaint have also been sent to various authorities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

M B Mahesh, president of the South Kolkata district unit of the BJMC, emphasized that the recurring loss of lives due to illegal and unsafe constructions cannot be dismissed as mere accidents. He reiterated the need for an FIR and a comprehensive investigation to hold accountable those who permitted such structures and to ensure strict legal repercussions.

As a result of the warehouse collapse, at least 16 individuals have lost their lives, while approximately 17 others are receiving treatment at the state-run SSKM Medical College and Hospital. Rescue operations are ongoing at the site, where five individuals associated with the construction and an official, Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay, have been arrested.

In response to the incident, the state government has ordered the formation of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) by the Kolkata Police to investigate the accident.