📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Qirille
Crime
Three accused in Yamuna Expressway bus fire sent to jail; drivers deny smoking link
✍️ indiagazette.com
🗓 25 Sep 2026, 06:49 AM
👁 12
Three men charged in the Yamuna Expressway bus fire have been taken into custody, while the bus drivers maintain they were not smoking at the time of the blaze.
A court in Uttar Pradesh ordered the remand of three individuals accused of arson in the May 2022 bus fire on the Yamuna Expressway, sending them to jail pending trial. The accused, identified as co‑passengers on the ill‑fated vehicle, are alleged to have set the fire deliberately, leading to the death of several passengers.
The incident, which occurred near Greater Noida, sparked a police investigation that focused on whether a cigarette or other smoking material ignited the blaze. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that a lit cigarette could have been the trigger, prompting charges of culpable homicide and arson against the three suspects.
However, the two bus drivers who survived the fire have publicly refuted the smoking theory, stating that no one was smoking inside the bus and that the fire started abruptly. Their statements were recorded during police interrogation, and the defense team has urged the court to consider the drivers' testimonies before concluding the case.
The trial remains ongoing, with the court scheduled to hear further arguments next week. Authorities have emphasized that the investigation will continue to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and hold all responsible parties accountable.
The incident, which occurred near Greater Noida, sparked a police investigation that focused on whether a cigarette or other smoking material ignited the blaze. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that a lit cigarette could have been the trigger, prompting charges of culpable homicide and arson against the three suspects.
However, the two bus drivers who survived the fire have publicly refuted the smoking theory, stating that no one was smoking inside the bus and that the fire started abruptly. Their statements were recorded during police interrogation, and the defense team has urged the court to consider the drivers' testimonies before concluding the case.
The trial remains ongoing, with the court scheduled to hear further arguments next week. Authorities have emphasized that the investigation will continue to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and hold all responsible parties accountable.