ED Mumbai Office Fire: Documents Damaged, but Records and Digital Backups Safe, Says Agency

Moneylife Digital Team 28 April 2025

Economy & Nation

A fire broke out early on Saturday morning at the Mumbai zonal office-I of the directorate of enforcement (ED), causing damage to documents and office property. However, ED has confirmed that critical evidentiary records remain secure due to the existence of digital copies.

According to an official statement, the fire erupted at around 2:25am on 27 April 2025, on the mezzanine level (4th floor) of the Kaiser-I-Hind building in Ballard Estate. The incident was first detected by ED staff and the security guard who noticed heavy smoke and promptly informed state police stationed on the ground floor. The Mumbai Fire Brigade was alerted at approximately 2:30am and reached the site within 10 to 15 minutes.

"The fire-fighting operations, involving over 50 personnel and multiple fire tenders, commenced at around 3:30am. The local MRA Marg Police Station was also informed of the situation. Preliminary findings suggest that an electrical short circuit at power boxes on the fourth floor was the likely cause of the blaze," ED says.

While an exact assessment of the damage is ongoing, the agency says initial reports indicate that some physical documents, papers and furniture were destroyed in the fire. ED clarified that evidentiary documents and critical records for ongoing investigations are routinely digitised and stored on an internal centralised system. "Moreover, in cases where prosecution complaints have been filed, original records are already available with the respective courts."

The agency assured that there would be no impediment to ongoing investigations or trials as a result of the incident.

Offices located on the ground and first floors of the Kaiser-I-Hind building remain fully functional, the agency says.

Meanwhile, the affected portion of the fourth-floor office has been shifted and is operational from the old regional office situated at Janmabhoomi Chambers.

Additionally, ED noted that the Maharashtra state government has recently allotted land at Bandra Kurla Complex for the construction of a dedicated stand-alone office for the agency. Efforts are underway to expedite procedural requirements to establish the new premises at the earliest, it added.

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