NJ man 'Ignited' fire at his Astoria lounge, feds say

Asit Raja is charged with arson for allegedly setting fires inside his Astoria restaurant, prosectors said. the FDNY released surveillance footage that seems to show Raja setting and stoking the flames. Screenshot via FDNY

By David Brand

An Astoria entrepreneur made sure his bar lived up to its name, federal prosecutors say.

Asif Raja, 54, is charged with arson for allegedly igniting a fire inside the Ignited Lounge on Steinway Street in Astoria on Aug. 4, 2020.

Surveillance footage from inside the restaurant appears to show Raja, a New Jersey resident, setting fires and pouring liquid accelerant throughout the restaurant. Sprinklers extinguished the flames, but FDNY marshals determined that the blaze seemed suspicious.

“We are extremely grateful that no one was injured during this incident,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel  Nigro.

Raja was arraigned on Jan. 6  in Brooklyn federal court on one count of arson and released on $140,000 bond, a Department of Justice official said Monday. If convicted, he faces five to 20 years in prison and would be forced to forfeit the property, according to his indictment.

Business filings show Raja listed as the owner of several companies based at 30-27 Steinway Street, including the Ignited Lounge, a spa and a cafe.

Raja’s attorney from the Federal Defenders declined to comment on the case.