Garib Nagar fire: Father-son duo nabbed in connection with the blaze

Salim Lightwala and son Salman

The Nirmal Nagar police have arrested a man and his son in connection with the Garib Nagar fire that took place in October 2017. According to the police, Salim Lightwala and his son Salman opened a gas cylinder and set it on fire in order to obstruct the demolition drive.

Last October, when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was carrying out the demolition drive, a massive fire broke out that gutted over 100 hutments. The ticketing equipment at Bandra station. At the time, the fire brigade had submitted a report stating inferno was caused due to a cylinder explosion.

The Nirmal Nagar cops had earlier arrested Sabir Khan in connection with the case. They, however, were probing the role of other accused. "Both Salim and his son own over 10 hutments in Garib Nagar and wanted to save them from demolition.

When the officials arrived, they opened a gas cylinder and set it on fire, which spread immediately," said a police officer. Salim Lightwala, a history-sheeter, is also an accused in the Azad Maidan riot of 2012, apart from being involved in 14 other offences including murder. Both have been sent to police custody till 9 January.

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