Lucknow

A local court in Lucknow on Tuesday remanded all four accused arrested in connection with the devastating fire incident in the city's Aliganj area to judicial custody. The blaze, which occurred a day earlier, claimed 15 lives, including those of students, trainees and employees associated with a gaming and animation studio operating in the building.

According to officials, three of the accused were subsequently sent to jail, while the fourth accused, building owner Virendra Prasad Shukla, was admitted to a hospital after reportedly developing a heart-related ailment.

The order was passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM-2) court in Lucknow.

The four individuals named in the case are Virendra Prasad Shukla, the owner of the building; Tushank Krishna Jaiswal, identified as the director and operator of the gaming zone institute; Suresh Kumar Sahu, an IT networking professional; and Ram Krishna Upadhyay.

The fire broke out in a three-storey commercial building in the Aliganj locality that housed a gaming and animation training centre. The incident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, while several others sustained injuries.

Police have registered a case at Aliganj Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the building owners, institution operators and other persons found responsible for the tragedy.

Investigators said the probe remains ongoing and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any additional individuals whose negligence or actions may have contributed to the incident. Authorities have also informed the families of the victims and are coordinating relief, compensation and other forms of assistance.

Officials stated that a comprehensive inquiry is being conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire, and further legal action will be initiated based on the evidence collected during the investigation.

Earlier in the day, members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), including Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism and Culture Department, and Praveen Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Lucknow Zone, visited the site for an extensive inspection.

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Following the visit, Abhijat said that photographs and other material evidence had been collected from multiple locations within the building to facilitate a thorough investigation. He added that individuals and departments linked to the premises would be questioned before the SIT submits its final report.