The arrest follows days of protests by Opposition leaders calling for a thorough investigation into the collapse.
A consultant involved in the structural design of the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, which recently collapsed, has been arrested. This comes after days of protests by Opposition leaders demanding a thorough investigation.Chetan Patil, the structural consultant for the statue that fell at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, was arrested by Kolhapur Police on Thursday night.Patil had been on the run since the incident on Monday, which has ignited widespread public outrage and political turmoil. Meanwhile, the sculptor Jaydeep Apte remains at large.
At least six investigative teams from the Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, and Thane Police were searching for the duo, whose mobile phones had been switched off. However, Patil was apprehended last night.
The statue was unveiled on December 4 last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Navy Day celebrations, held for the first time in Sindhudurg. The statue was intended to honor the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to maritime defense and security, highlighting their historical connection to the modern Indian Navy.
A 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district collapsed on Monday afternoon. The statue had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day in December 2023.
A joint technical committee, led by the Indian Navy and including representatives from the Maharashtra Government and technical experts, is being formed to investigate the unfortunate damage.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has accused the ruling government of corruption in the statue’s construction and has called for the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.