Introduction

In the early hours of Sunday, a massive fire broke out inside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office located in Ballard Estate, South Mumbai. Though no injuries were reported, the blaze caused substantial property damage and raised serious concerns about fire safety in aging government buildings. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the top 5 facts surrounding the incident.

1. Fire Started in the Early Morning Hours

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s disaster control cell, the fire began around 2:31 am on the fourth floor of the six-storey structure housing the ED office. Initially categorized as a level-1 fire, it escalated to a level-3 blaze by 3:30 am, prompting a large-scale emergency response.

2. Massive Firefighting Effort Spanned 10 Hours

The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) deployed a significant number of resources, including 12 fire engines, 7 jumbo tankers, an aerial water tower, breathing apparatus van, rescue and quick response vehicles, and an ambulance. The fire was brought under control around noon after an intense 10-hour operation.

3. Old Building and Poor Fire Safety Worsened the Situation

MFB officials highlighted that the old structure lacked a proper in-house firefighting system, relying only on fire extinguishers. Combustible items such as paper files and wooden furniture, along with outdated electrical wiring, helped fuel the fire, complicating the extinguishing efforts further.

4. No Casualties, But Major Property Loss

Thankfully, the office was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported. However, extensive damage was caused to property, including important documents, files, and office infrastructure. Visibility issues due to the time of night and corridor obstructions from old furniture made operations more difficult.

5. ED Office Handles High-Profile Investigations

The Mumbai ED office is handling several high-profile money laundering cases involving major political figures. These include:

• Sanjay Raut: Arrested in 2022 for alleged irregularities in Patra Chawl redevelopment linked to HDIL.
• Anil Parab: Questioned for violations linked to Sai Resort in Dapoli and alleged CRZ breaches.
• Anil Deshmukh: Accused of accepting ₹4.7 crore in bribes via dismissed officer Sachin Waze, as detailed in a CBI FIR.

The damage caused by the fire may affect ongoing investigations, though officials have not yet commented on data or file losses.

“The office was empty when the blaze broke out, and no injuries were reported in the incident. However, there have been some serious losses to the property as the office contained several papers and old furniture,” the official added.

The ED’s Mumbai office is currently probing several high-profile money laundering cases involving senior political leaders.

Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut was arrested on August 1, 2022, in connection with alleged violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra Chawl by Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of HDIL.
Investigators claim the total proceeds of crime in the case amount to Rs 1,039.79 crore.

Another Sena UBT leader, Anil Parab, has been questioned multiple times in a money laundering case tied to Sai Resort in Dapoli, following complaints by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya about violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.

Subsequent raids revealed irregularities in Parab’s 2017 land purchase.

The ED is also investigating case against NCP leader and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, accused of receiving around Rs 4.7 crore in cash from orchestra bar owners through dismissed police officer Sachin Waze between December 2020 and February 2021, as detailed in a CBI FIR registered in April 2021.

Conclusion

This incident has sparked renewed concern over the preparedness of government buildings in Mumbai when it comes to fire safety. As investigations into the cause continue, the focus must now shift to modernizing fire prevention infrastructure, especially in offices handling critical and sensitive cases. For more updates on civic safety concerns, visit our dedicated fire safety report.