The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday blamed Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta and his predecessors Manoj Tiwari and Satish Upadhyaya for the deaths of 27 people in the Mundka fire tragedy.

The AAP demanded a case of unintentional murder lodged against them and a probe to ascertain who took the bribes.

Saurabh Bhardwaj, the AAP’s spokesperson said that with the suspension of three MCD officials, it has been proved that BJP president Adesh Gupta, his predecessors Manoj Tiwari and Satish Upadhyaya are responsible for the deaths of the 27 people.

He said the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) let “unauthorised” industrial activity continue in the building where the fire broke out, even though a Supreme Court-appointed committee had sealed it.

“The unauthorised industrial activity continued there because the building owner Manish Lakra, who has been arrested in connection with the case, was a BJP man and had close links with the leaders of the saffron party, including Master Azad Singh, the uncle of West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma,” Bharadwaj charged.

Upadhyaya, Tiwari and Gupta have been the successive Delhi BJP presidents during the time the building was being constructed, when unauthorised commercial activities began on its premises and when the fire tragedy occurred, he pointed out.

“Whenever we talked about corruption in the MCD and its building department, they came out to defend it during their respective terms. Why was Gupta giving a twist to the fire incident? Did he take a bribe?” Bhardwaj asked.

“They are responsible for the deaths of the 27 people.... We demand that an FIR be lodged against them for unintentional murder and a probe conducted to ascertain if the bribe went only into their hands or did they share it with top BJP leaders also,”

he said.