Pune candle factory fire: HC grants interim protection from arrest to land owner

The Bombay High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to a 61-year-old woman owner of a land in Maharashtra’s Pune district where a fire at a candle manufacturing factory last month killed 14 people.

A single bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal on Tuesday granted the interim protection to Jannat Shikalgar till February 6 and sought the prosecution’s response to her plea seeking pre-arrest bail in the case.

Shikalgar has been charged by the Dehu Road police at Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district under Indian Penal Code sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible material and explosive substance and causing hurt, as well as provisions of the Explosives Act. The fire following a blast at the sparkling candles manufacturing factory on December 8, 2023 claimed 14 lives. Shikalgar is the owner of the land where the factory is located. Apart from Shikalgar, the FIR also named her husband and the factory owner.

In her plea, filed through advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, Shikalgar said she had given the land on the leave and license basis to the factory owner for a period of three years from June 2023 and all requisite licenses were to be obtained by the licensee.
Deshmukh argued that Shikalgar cannot be held responsible for any lapse. He also submitted to the court that Shikalgar suffers from paralysis and hence custodial interrogation was not required.

The bench adjourned the matter till February 6 after the prosecution sought time but granted interim protection from arrest to Shikalgar until then.

TDG Network

Recent Posts

Did Taylor Swift Pressure Justin Baldoni with Blake and Ryan During ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama?

Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, alleging…

11 minutes ago

High-Stakes Lawsuit by Prince Harry Against NGN Officially Underway

Prince Harry’s legal case against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers starts in London, addressing allegations…

12 minutes ago

‘I’m Going to Miss You’: Joe Biden Enjoys Milkshakes in Final White House Days

The White House shared a nostalgic video of Joe Biden during his final days as…

20 minutes ago

Italy Minister Daniela Santanche Faces Trial on Accounting Charges

Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche has been ordered to stand trial on charges of false accounting…

1 hour ago

India to Announce Squad for England ODIs and Champions Trophy 2025 on…..

The BCCI will reveal India's squad for the England ODI series and Champions Trophy 2025…

1 hour ago

Shin Chan’s House Comes to Life: Fan Spends Millions to Create Replica

A passionate fan spent $400,000 to recreate Shin-chan's house on a sheep farm in China.…

1 hour ago