A formal complaint has been lodged against former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim in connection with the Taratala warehouse collapse, alleging negligence and his role in granting final approval to a flawed building design. The complaint was filed at Taratala Police Station by the Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Cell, the labour wing of the BJP, and also names Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillors Anwar Khan and Shams Iqbal.
The complainants have sought immediate registration of an FIR and a fair, impartial investigation into the incident. They have demanded the identification and arrest of all individuals responsible for the deaths caused by the collapse, including Hakim and the two councillors, along with strict legal action.
The complaint also calls for urgent inspection of other potentially hazardous and illegal constructions in the area to prevent similar tragedies.
Death toll rises —
Meanwhile, the death toll in the Taratala collapse has climbed to 17, with the latest fatality being 38-year-old Khalek Sardar from Basanti in South 24 Parganas. Sardar, who had been undergoing treatment in critical condition in the trauma care unit’s red zone since the accident, succumbed to his injuries on Friday night.
The incident has sparked intense political controversy, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari raising serious questions about Hakim’s role in approving the warehouse design. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Adhikari alleged that the structure suffered from fundamental design flaws and that the final clearance had been granted by Hakim during his tenure as Mayor.
Official records indicate that the design was cleared during a Municipal Building Committee meeting held on November 20 last year. While the meeting notes reportedly stated that the design did not violate building norms “in the strict sense,” they also mentioned that final implementation required special approval from the Mayor or the Mayor-in-Council member in charge of the Building Department. At the time, Hakim held both positions and signed the meeting notes, effectively granting final approval.
Further fuelling the controversy are photographs that have surfaced showing Hakim alongside individuals linked to the project. Investigations have revealed that Asgar Hossain, who was responsible for constructing the collapsed warehouse, shares close ties with Anwar Khan, the former Trinamool councillor of Ward 80. The images have led to speculation about deeper political and personal connections among those involved.
Despite mounting criticism, Hakim has denied any personal liability in the matter. He maintained that the warehouse was not illegal to his knowledge and attributed the incident to lapses in monitoring. “The Mayor or the Municipal Commissioner cannot personally visit every site to oversee operations,” he said.
Defending his decision to sign the design approval, Hakim argued that he is not a technical expert and that his signature was merely an administrative formality based on recommendations made by the Building Committee. However, his explanation has failed to quell the growing political storm, with leaders from across party lines—including factions within the Trinamool Congress, as well as the Left, Congress, and BJP—calling for strict action and accountability in the case.
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