Nagpur, Sept 9
A blaze that police say was deliberately kindled gutted The Cafe Barrel in Shivaji Nagar in the early hours of Sunday after a man who had been refused entry returned and set the premises on fire, officials said on Wednesday. The accused has been arrested and further enquiries are under way to determine motive and any broader damage.
Police identified the prime accused as 31-year-old Mohanlal Tiwari, who the records show worked as a chef abroad and now runs a restaurant named Samota in Jayaprakash Nagar, Nagpur. Investigators said Tiwari had earlier been stopped at the pub’s entrance when security personnel found he was carrying a packet of gutkha, after which he was denied entry.
- Date of incident: Early hours, Sunday (police timeline)
- Location: The Cafe Barrel, Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur
- Primary accused: Mohanlal Tiwari, 31, restaurateur
- Alleged accomplice: Shubham Vishwakarma, 23, employed as a chef
According to police, Tiwari felt humiliated after being stopped at the gate, particularly because his friends were present at the time. Later that night he is alleged to have returned, poured petrol around the establishment and set it alight. Authorities recovered CCTV footage and other material as part of the probe, police said.
Investigating officers also named 23-year-old Shubham Vishwakarma as a person who accompanied Tiwari on the drive to the pub. Vishwakarma works as a chef at a Nagpur hotel. Officials told reporters that Vishwakarma has said he was unaware of Tiwari’s intention to commit arson when he agreed to go along.
Police said the blaze was found to be deliberate after preliminary investigation.
City fire and rescue teams were called to the scene and extinguished the flames; details about the extent of damage to the building and any injuries were not made public in initial statements. No official casualty figures have been released. Senior police officers said the case has been registered and further forensic and digital inquiries are ongoing.
Local business owners in Shivaji Nagar expressed concern about the safety of nightlife venues following the incident. The area, close to commercial and residential pockets, has several restaurants and bars frequented by young adults and professionals. Owners said the incident would prompt them to review security arrangements at entry points and to coordinate more closely with police.
Legal action against those accused is progressing as per standard criminal procedure. The investigating team said they were examining the role of each person named in the FIR, recovering CCTV footage from nearby cameras and seeking witness statements from patrons and staff who were present that night.
| Person | Age | Occupation / Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Mohanlal Tiwari | 31 | Runs Samota restaurant, Jayaprakash Nagar (accused) |
| Shubham Vishwakarma | 23 | Chef at a Nagpur hotel (accompanied accused) |
Police said they are also probing whether there were any lapses in pub security or in safety equipment that might have worsened the fire. Officials urged business owners to comply with municipal fire-safety norms and to maintain adequate surveillance at entrances to prevent confrontations from escalating.
The case adds to growing concerns among patrons and restaurateurs in Nagpur about the potential for minor disputes to escalate into violent incidents. Local civic activists and traders’ associations have called for tighter enforcement of safety regulations and for capacity-building of security staff to defuse conflicts without confrontation.
Further details, including formal charges and the status of any remand proceedings, are expected after the completion of initial police investigations and submission of the charge sheet, officers said.
