The first arrest has been made on Friday in the case of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue collapse in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. A structural consultant from Kolhapur has been detained.
Kolhapur Crime Branch arrested structural consultant Chetan Patil around 3 AM on Friday for the Sindhudurg case. Patil was arrested in a joint operation with Malvan police and subsequently handed over to Malvan police by Kolhapur Police.
Earlier, the police had made contractor and architect Jaideep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil accused in the FIR. Jaideep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil were accused of negligence and potentially endangering people around the statue.
Source: aajtak
When was the statue erected?
The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg was unveiled on December 4, 2023, during the first-ever Naval Day celebrations held in Sindhudurg. The statue was intended to honor the Maratha navy's legacy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's contributions to maritime defense and security, as well as its historical connection to the modern Indian Navy. The project was conceived and led by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the state government, which provided funding.
Since the statue's collapse, the political scenario in the state has been increasingly tense. Opposing parties including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP have been criticizing the BJP and Shinde government over this issue.
PM Modi inaugurated it 8 months ago
The 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was formally inaugurated 8 months ago on December 4 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inauguration coincided with the Naval Day celebrations. Paying tribute to Shivaji Maharaj's visionary efforts, the statue was installed in a fort in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.
