India, Aug. 23 -- The Bombay High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against the office-bearers of a Kandivali housing society in connection with a 2021 fire that killed two elderly women, ruling that they could not be held criminally liable for a blaze caused by a short circuit in the doorbell of a flat. The court also cleared the building's builder and architect, noting that the building had received an occupation certificate in 2014.

A single bench of Justice Milind Jadhav passed the order on Thursday while allowing petitions filed by the accused, who had approached the high court in 2022 seeking quashing of the FIR.

"Cause of action for the fire to occur in the present case is the short circuit occurred on the 14th floor door be...