Structural consultant Chetan Patil was arrested from Kolhapur on Friday morning in connection with the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The arrest followed a coordinated operation by the Kolhapur crime branch and Malvan police, who took Patil into their custody and transferred him to Malvan for further investigation.
Patil, who was named in the FIR related to the collapse, has contested claims that he was responsible for the structural integrity of the statue. According to Patil, his involvement was limited to working on the platform for the statue, with the actual statue's construction handled by a Thane-based company. Despite his denials, his arrest reflects the gravity with which authorities are treating the case.
The statue, which was inaugurated less than nine months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fell at Rajkot Fort in Malvan on Monday, August 26. This incident has not only drawn attention for its tragic outcome but also ignited significant political controversy in Maharashtra, especially as the state approaches elections.
The Maharashtra government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has responded by forming a technical committee to probe the causes behind the statue’s collapse. The committee’s task is to determine the factors that led to the statue’s failure and to hold accountable those responsible. Chief Minister Shinde has emphasized that rebuilding a grand statue of Shivaji Maharaj is a priority for the government, and he has called for a concerted effort to rectify the situation swiftly.
The Indian Navy, which had played a role in the statue's project in collaboration with the state government, has pledged to support the restoration and rebuilding efforts. The Navy had been responsible for the project’s conceptualization and guidance, with the actual construction funded and managed by the state government.
Political reactions have been strong. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has organized silent protests across Maharashtra to express outrage over the incident. The NCP has criticized the current administration for its handling of the project and the subsequent fallout.
In his response to the crisis, Chief Minister Shinde offered a public apology, expressing his willingness to make amends for the statue's collapse. He appealed to opposition parties to avoid using the incident for political gain and instead focus on collaborative efforts to address the issue. Shinde assured that the government is working diligently to rebuild the statue and restore the honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The collapse of the statue has become a focal point of political discourse in Maharashtra, highlighting issues of governance, accountability, and the management of public projects. The ongoing investigation and the government's response will be closely watched as the state moves toward its electoral future.
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