Link Square Premises Cooperative Society Ltd in Bandra, where a fire broke out in the basement Croma showroom in April, has informed the Bombay High Court that a structural audit of the building has been conducted and that they are awaiting the report.
The society filed an affidavit in the HC in response to a petition filed by Chinagate Restaurants Pvt Ltd, seeking removal of debris from the premises and directing the society to undertake a structural audit of the building.
On April 29, a Level 4 fire broke out in the basement Croma showroom of Link Square Mall, which is owned by former MLA Zeeshan Siddique. While no casualties were reported, the fire gutted two terrace restaurants and over 200 shops. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) took 22 hours to control the blaze, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of its response. China Gate Group’s restaurants, TAP Resto Bar and Global Fusion, were located in the building.
Chinagate, represented by advocates Ankul Seth and Yashraj Tongia, sought directions to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to remove the debris left on the premises after the fire and to conduct a structural audit of the building.
An affidavit was filed by the society’s secretary, Tabassum Shaikh, emphasising that there was never any “obstacle whatsoever for conducting the structural audit of the building, more particularly due to the fire which had taken place on 29th April 2025”. The society appointed Mahimtura Consultants Private Limited on June 20 to undertake a structural audit of the building. The audit has been completed and the report is awaited.
It also stated that the society has no objection to the structural audit being undertaken by the petitioner by appointing Sardar Patel College of Engineering. The petitioner had sought, on July 3, and was granted permission the very next day, to get the structural audit conducted by the college. “I state that after the decision of Respondent No. 3 society, the audit by Sardar Patel College of Engineering is in progress,” the affidavit said.
Bandra Link Square Mall Fire: Probe Reveals Non-Functional Fire Systems, False Safety CertificationThe debris lying on the first and second floors of the building has been substantially removed. The insurance company informed the society that the “debris having any salvageable value should be segregated and made available to them for inspection on site”. This process, though time-consuming, is mandatory. Accordingly, the debris removal agency has requested a time period of one and a half months, the society added.
The court noted that the structural audit would have to be completed and the structure restored. “After which, the Municipal Corporation, through its appropriate department, as also the fire department, would be required to inspect the premises and grant necessary approval/permission to the said premises of Respondent No. 3 society,” a bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor said on July 10, while disposing of the petition.
