Surat: Police arrested the owner of the basement hall in the Zampa Bazaar area on Saturday, where around 20 women suffered suffocation on Friday. In the incident, around 60 women gathered in the hall for dinner, and due to smoke, they complained of severe breathlessness. Police arrested Yusuf Sajapurwala for the offence registered against him at Mahidharpura police station.
The accused was booked under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita section 125 (Rash or negligent act endangering personal safety or human life). On Friday, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) sealed the hall in the basement of Alnoor Mansion after finding a few irregularities. During an inquiry by SMC, it was found that the basement's use for commercial activity was unauthorised, and the building was served notice for the same.
Following the notice, the hall was sealed by SMC. "It is yet to be checked if the hall was unauthorised construction," said an official. There was no ventilation in the air-conditioned hall and it had only one exit staircase.
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