Kolkata: A day after 91 people were killed in a massive fire at the AMRI hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
"Since people have faith on the judicial system and a tragedy of huge dimension has occurred, we have taken this decision. We have nothing to hide", Ms Banerjee told reporters at the Writers' Buildings. She added that police investigation into the incident would continue simultaneously.
Earlier in the day, the seven accused in the case, all board members of the hospital who were arrested yesterday, were remanded to police custody till December 20 by the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alipore. The said accused include Radhe Shyam Goenka, Prashant Goenka, Manish Goenka, Shrawan Kumar Todi, Ravi Todi, Dayanand Aggarwal and Radhe Shyam Aggarwal who have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the deadly fire.
Amitabh Ganguly, who appeared for the accused, told newsmen outside the court that he was not allowed to move the bail petition. "We were not allowed to move the bail application. Some of my clients were ill and we wanted bail on health grounds, but we were not allowed to function," Mr Ganguly said. "It was a one-sided hearing," he alleged.
The board members had voluntarily surrendered at a local police station yesterday.
Two out of the three blocks of the hospital - one which caught fire and the one adjacent to it - have also been sealed this morning.
Amitabh Ganguly, who appeared for the accused, told newsmen outside the court that he was not allowed to move the bail petition. "We were not allowed to move the bail application. Some of my clients were ill and we wanted bail on health grounds, but we were not allowed to function," Mr Ganguly said. "It was a one-sided hearing," he alleged.