A significant fire engulfed a portion of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office located in Mumbai’s Fort area early Monday morning. According to fire brigade officials, the blaze started around 5:30 a.m. on the second floor and rapidly spread to adjoining offices handling sensitive investigations.
While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities confirmed that several important case files and digital records may have been destroyed or severely damaged. The ED office had been housing documents related to ongoing high-profile cases, including alleged money laundering involving corporate magnates and politicians.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire could have been caused by an electrical short-circuit, but sabotage has not been ruled out given the sensitive nature of the records involved. Maharashtra’s Home Minister ordered an independent inquiry led by a special crime branch unit.
Traffic around South Mumbai was disrupted for several hours, and nearby offices were evacuated as a precaution. Political reactions poured in swiftly, with opposition leaders demanding transparency and an immediate audit of the files lost in the fire.
The ED confirmed that backup records exist in encrypted digital formats, but the incident has raised concerns about security protocols in key government institutions.