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, has sparked controversy following its sudden downfall.
The FIR names contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, charging them under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including collusion, fraud, and endangering public safety. The action was prompted by a complaint from the Public Works Department (PWD), which highlighted substandard construction and revealed that the nuts and bolts used in the statue were severely rusted.
Concerns over the statue’s stability had been raised earlier by residents and tourists. Despite warnings from the assistant engineer of the Malvan division of the PWD on August 20, no preventive measures were taken. The PWD had already flagged the rusting issue, indicating that it compromised the structure’s integrity. However, these alerts went unheeded.
Sindhudurg Guardian Minister Ravindra Chavan stated that the steel used in the statue had already begun rusting, and the PWD had even informed Navy officials about the issue, urging them to take corrective action. The statue’s construction began on September 8, with the Indian Navy, which lacks expertise in statue building, being tasked with the project. The unveiling took place during Navy Day celebrations at Rajkot Fort, with Prime Minister Modi officiating.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde acknowledged the incident, attributing the collapse to strong winds recorded at 45 km per hour during the time of the event. However, the Opposition has been vocal in criticizing the government, accusing it of negligence and pointing out that the collapse could have been prevented with better oversight.
This incident raises questions about the quality and safety of public projects and has sparked discussions about accountability in government-led initiatives.
