Pune candle factory fire: HC grants interim protection from arrest to land owner
Mumbai (PTI): 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.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
