Minor fire in Shastri Bhavan

NEW DELHI: A minor fire broke out at Shastri Bhavan, which houses many ministries, and was in the spotlight in recent days over the corporate espionage case.

The fire was reported around 6:20 PM on the third floor of the office building which houses coal and fertilizer ministries.

"There was sparking in the electrical wiring in a room at the third floor which probably was caused due to overheating. We had got a call around 6:20 PM following which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. There was smoke filled in the room. Things were brought into control by 6:40 PM," said a fire official.

Fire and police officials ruled out sabotage in the case and also maintained that there was no loss of life and material in the incident.

Located in the heart of the capital, Shastri Bhawan houses offices of at least 18 central ministries and remained in the headlines for several days, as it was found that the building security was repeatedly breached and classified documents were stolen.

Cracking down on a major case of corporate espionage, Delhi Police had on February 19 arrested two junior Oil Ministry officials and three other middlemen for allegedly leaking classified government documents to energy companies.

Sixteen people have been arrested in this case which continues to throw up new names everyday. Police have registered two separate FIRs in this case. While 13 people have been arrested in the first FIR, three have been held in the second case.