Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: The structural consultant responsible for the design of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, which recently collapsed in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, has been arrested. The arrest took place on Thursday night, following intense public outrage and political pressure from Opposition leaders who have called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Chetan Patil, the consultant behind the structural design of the statue that fell at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, had been evading arrest since the incident on Monday. The collapse of the 35-foot-tall statue has sparked a significant political controversy, with the sculptor, Jaydeep Apte, still at large.
Multiple police teams from Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, and Thane had been searching for Patil and Apte, whose mobile phones were found to be switched off. However, Patil was apprehended last night, bringing a crucial figure in the investigation into custody.
The statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, as part of the Navy Day celebrations in Sindhudurg, was intended to honor the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to maritime defense. The unfortunate collapse has prompted the formation of a joint technical committee, led by the Indian Navy, to investigate the causes of the damage. The committee will include representatives from the Maharashtra Government and technical experts.
The incident has led to strong allegations from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which has accused the ruling government of corruption related to the statue’s construction. The MVA has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, further intensifying the political fallout.
