Cuttack: Police began its probe into last Sunday's fire at a garments showroom at Badambadi after registering an FIR in the case.

The fire on February 4 completely gutted the garments showroom.

As part of the inquiry, the police issued a notice to the building owner, Rajiv Goenka, and garments showroom, City Style, on the basis of an FIR lodged by the fire services.

Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh on Sunday said the case had been taken up on the basis of the FIR the fires services had lodged with Badambadi police following an inquiry.

"Accordingly, we have registered a case against the owner of the building and City Style for negligence and possession of false documents. After inquiry, we will file a charge sheet on that line," Singh said.

Sources said the police had asked Goenka to appear within a week at Badambadi police station and give reply to the allegations against him.

"The accused has been given opportunity to submit documents to prove that there was no negligence on his part regarding fire safety and that the documents in his possession were not false," Singh said.

Official sources said Badambadi police, as part of its inquiry, have sought from the Cuttack Development Authority a copy of the plan related to the building that it had approved.

The police have also asked the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to give information on the trade licence issued for the showroom. It has also asked the electricity department to ascertain whether the wiring and power connections were in proper condition.

The fire services department has also been asked to give details on safety measures required for the showroom building, the police said.

Before lodging the FIR, a three member committee headed by chief fire officer Sukanta Sethi had conducted an inquiry and found that the two-storey building had no proper fire safety equipment in place and corresponding building plan approval.

The showroom had a trade licence even as the structure did not adhere to the building plan approval and fire safety licence. According to the approved plan, only the ground floor was to be used for commercial purpose and the other two floors for residential purpose, sources said.