The store caught fire about two months after a petition was filed in the Madras High Court seeking temporary closure of the store. In the petition, Madurai-based activist Henri Tiphagne  had highlighted that among other issues, the building lacked emergency exits at the time. A case registered under Section 133 of the CrPC (The Code Of Criminal Procedure) is now pending in the High Court, and soon after the fire was reported, Henri said that the Madurai district Collector had not yet completed an inquiry over the matter.