Maharashtra: Big action in the case of Shivaji’s statue falling, accused consultant arrested

The first arrest was made on Friday in the case of the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. A structural consultant has been arrested from Kolhapur.

The Kolhapur Crime Branch arrested structural consultant Chetan Patil in the Sindhudurg case around 3 am on Friday. Patil was arrested under a joint operation with the Malwan police. After this, the Kolhapur police handed over the accused to the Malwan police.

The police had earlier named contractor and architect Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil as accused in the FIR.

An FIR has been filed against two people in the case of the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The complaint accuses contractor and artisanry company owner Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Dr. Chetan Patil of negligence and poor quality of work as well as potentially causing harm to people around the statue.

When was the statue installed?

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg was unveiled on December 4, 2023, when the Navy Day celebrations were held for the first time in Sindhudurg. The statue was intended to honor the heritage of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contribution to maritime defense and security as well as its historical connection with the modern Indian Navy. The project was conceptualized and led by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the state government. The government provided funds for the project.

There has been a political uproar in the state ever since the Shivaji statue collapsed. All opposition parties including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP are cornering the BJP and the Shinde government on this issue.

PM Modi inaugurated it 8 months ago

The 35-feet tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was formally inaugurated 8 months ago on December 4 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was inaugurated along with the Navy Day celebrations. Paying tribute to the visionary efforts of Shivaji Maharaj, the statue was installed at a fort in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.