Kolkata Police filed a chargesheet on November 12, 2026, against three people in the Hotel Shikha Inn fire case in Kolkata, West Bengal. The development was confirmed by police on Friday, November 13. The fire broke out on the night of August 18–19, 2026, on Mirza Ghalib Street and killed nine people, including a child. The chargesheet names hotel owner Bireshwar Moitra, leaseholder Abu Zafar and his wife, Saba Zafar. Police have submitted statements from 90 witnesses and a forensic report to the court.Key HighlightsKolkata Police name three accused in the Shikha Inn fire case.The 350-page chargesheet includes statements from 90 witnesses.Nine people, including a child, died in the August 19 fire.Police point to electrical overload and serious fire safety problems.Three People Named in the ChargesheetThe chargesheet names three people linked to Hotel Shikha Inn.The first accused is Bireshwar Moitra, the original owner of the hotel. Police arrested him from his home in Behala after the fire.The second accused is Abu Zafar, who took the hotel on lease from Moitra. During questioning, Moitra reportedly told police that he had leased the hotel to Abu and his wife for Rs 40,000 per month.The third accused is Saba Zafar, Abu's wife. Police arrested her on October 28, 2026, after she remained missing for several weeks following the fire.What Caused the Hotel Fire?According to the police chargesheet, changes inside the hotel may have played a major role in the tragedy.The report says that large hotel rooms were divided into many smaller rooms. Almost every room had an air conditioner (AC). Police said that installing many AC units without following safety rules caused an electrical overload.The fire reportedly started near an electrical board and then spread to the hotel rooms.A police officer said:"The 350-page chargesheet also highlights the horror of the incident."Police have also raised concerns about the building. It was originally a residential complex. The chargesheet says it was later changed into a hotel without the required permission from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the West Bengal Fire Services Department.Nine People Lost Their LivesThe fire broke out on the third floor of the building. Thick smoke quickly filled the hotel rooms. Most of the victims died due to suffocation.Many of the victims were Bangladeshi nationals who had come to Kolkata for medical treatment. A child was also among those who lost their lives.What Happens Next?The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These include offences linked to causing death, attempted offences, putting lives at risk and criminal conspiracy.The police have submitted the forensic report along with the chargesheet. The court will now deal with the case as per the law.The tragedy has also raised serious questions about hotel safety, building permissions and electrical systems in Kolkata.
