The restobar at Dattagalli in Mysuru involved in the fire mishap on Monday that claimed two lives and left seven persons injured did not have a licence to serve liquor.

Minister for Urban Development Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who visited the fire accident spot and the hospital to meet the injured on Tuesday, said that action would be taken not only against the restaurant owners for operating a bar without the required licence, but also against the officials responsible for turning a blind eye to such gross violation of rules.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Yathindra said the restaurant situated on the second floor did not have a licence to serve liquor. Liquor was illegally being supplied to the restaurant from the wine store operating on the ground floor, he alleged.

An inquiry is under way, and the Minister has recommended action against the Excise Department officials concerned. Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Lakshmikanth Reddy has been informed to suspend the Deputy Commissioner of Excise and send him a report in this regard.

To a question, Mr. Yathindra said the owners claimed to have submitted an application for a liquor licence, but the Excise Department had given them an acknowledgement for receipt of applicaiton, but had neither rejected the application nor issued the licence.

Mr. Yathindra said he had received information about illegal serving of liquor in many restaurants along the Ring Road in Mysuru.

Hence, he has issued directions to the police to conduct a drive against such establishments and check whether the outlets serving liquor possess appropriate licences. The police have been instructed to take action against the establishments that were illegally serving liquor in restaurants in connivance with the Excise Department officials.

Fire safety

Pointing out that the restobar, Maara, did not have fire safety measures, Mr. Yathindra said the restaurant was set up on an African theme using a lot of inflammable material like grass and bamboo.

“There were no fire safety measures. Fire had spread rapidly after a short circuit,” he said while finding fault with the Fire and Emergency Services officials for allowing such an establishment to operate without taking necessary fire safety measures.

The Deputy Commissioner has been informed to take necessary action against the officials from Fire and Emergency Services in this regard. The Fire and Emergency Services officials should also inspect commercial complexes and check if they have necessary fire safety measures.

Mr. Yathindra held a meeting with officials to gather information about the fire accident and directed them to inspect all bars, restaurants and commercial establishments in Mysuru in the next one week and submit a report on their compliance with the licences and standards prescribed by the government.

He also instructed them to take precautions to ensure that such fire accidents do not recur.

Apart from Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy, the meeting was attended by Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Sheikh Tanveer Asif and Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi.