An FIR has been lodged against the contractor responsible for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. In Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg, which collapsed on Monday, just eight months after its inauguration. The statue, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, is at the center of the controversy.
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The FIR names contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil. Charging them under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). For collusion, fraud, and endangering public safety. The complaint, filed by the Public Works Department (PWD), alleges that the statue’s construction was substandard, with rusted nuts and bolts being a key issue.
Local citizens and tourists had previously raised concerns about the statue’s deteriorating condition. Despite these warnings, which included an alert from the assistant engineer of the Malvan division of the PWD on August 20, no preventive action was taken. Specifically, the PWD had highlighted that the rusting nuts and bolts posed a significant risk to the statue’s stability. However, these warnings were unfortunately ignored. As a result, the situation deteriorated further, culminating in the statue’s collapse.
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“The steel used in making of the statue had started rusting. The PWD had already written to Navy officials informing them about the statue catching rust. Requested them to take appropriate steps,” said Sindhudurg guardian minister Ravindra Chavan said.
Work on Statue Began in September; Navy Tasked with Construction
Work on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue commenced on September 8, with the Indian Navy, lacking experience in statue construction. Assigned the task of erecting the statue and its pedestal. The statue was unveiled on December 4, Navy Day, at Rajkot Fort by Prime Minister Modi.
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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has addressed the incident, attributing the collapse to strong winds blowing at 45 km/h at the time. However, the Opposition has criticized the government for negligence in handling the construction.