Cops launch hunt for hotel owners, manager detained
Times of India | 1 May 2025
Kolkata: The new 11-member SIT, led by DC (central) Indira Mukherjee, launched a manhunt for brothers, Akash and Atul Chawla, the owners of Rituraj Hotel.
Residents of an upscale residence on Suburban Park Road in Golabari, Howrah, told police the brothers no longer lived there. Their uncle, B S Chawla, said the family "was trying to contact them". The family reportedly wants them to face the legal battle rather than abscond. Mechhua residents said one of the brothers was very active on social media, where he posted recipes. They also claimed one of the owners was present in the initial hours of the firefighting but left before the cooling operation began around 3.30 am. One of the hotel managers, Gaurav, has been detained.
"Deaths were due to effects of asphyxia due to inhalation of carbon soot and thermal burn injuries... Two employees jumped off, one of them, Manoj Paswan, who died," said Rupesh Kumar, joint CP (crime & traffic). A 10-member forensic team collected evidence. The autopsy reports for the 14 deceased confirmed most died due to suffocation from smoke inhalation.
DG (fire) Ranvir Kumar said, "Around 100 sqm on the first floor was being renovated. They were probably trying to extend the area. Plywood and other combustible materials were kept there. The fire started probably while the work was on, and it spread. The smoke got trapped in the stairs and travelled to the upper floors."
Kolkata: The new 11-member SIT, led by DC (central) Indira Mukherjee, launched a manhunt for brothers, Akash and Atul Chawla, the owners of Rituraj Hotel.
Residents of an upscale residence on Suburban Park Road in Golabari, Howrah, told police the brothers no longer lived there. Their uncle, B S Chawla, said the family "was trying to contact them". The family reportedly wants them to face the legal battle rather than abscond. Mechhua residents said one of the brothers was very active on social media, where he posted recipes. They also claimed one of the owners was present in the initial hours of the firefighting but left before the cooling operation began around 3.30 am. One of the hotel managers, Gaurav, has been detained.
"Deaths were due to effects of asphyxia due to inhalation of carbon soot and thermal burn injuries... Two employees jumped off, one of them, Manoj Paswan, who died," said Rupesh Kumar, joint CP (crime & traffic). A 10-member forensic team collected evidence. The autopsy reports for the 14 deceased confirmed most died due to suffocation from smoke inhalation.
DG (fire) Ranvir Kumar said, "Around 100 sqm on the first floor was being renovated. They were probably trying to extend the area. Plywood and other combustible materials were kept there. The fire started probably while the work was on, and it spread. The smoke got trapped in the stairs and travelled to the upper floors."