2012 wall collapse case: Court pulls up Delhi Police, MCD

New Delhi, Nov 2: A Delhi court has pulled up the police and MCD officials for not stopping illegal construction of a wall that collapsed killing four children here in 2012, saying the facts indicate a "highly deprecable nexus" between them.

"Facts of this case indicate highly depreciable nexus between the officials of MCD, police officials and contractor. It has come in evidence that police officials as well as MCD officials were well aware of illegal construction being raised at the property.

"However, no effective steps were taken by the police and MCD officials to prevent illegal construction... Had the MCD officials and police acted in time to prevent the illegal construction at property, four innocent lives could have been saved," Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav said.

The court's observation came while awarding maximum jail term of two years to contractor Mohd Saleem, constructor of the wall in Chhatarpur Extension here, for causing death of four children by his negligence.

"Four innocent children died on account of acts/omissions of accused (Saleem). Any lenient approach in such cases will send a wrong signal. Considering the calamitous impact and enormity of the tragedy which resulted on account of the acts of convict. Therefore, convict deserves maximum punishment under section 304­A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC.

"Accordingly, Saleem is sentenced to simple imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs 10,000," the court said.

The court, however, admitted him to bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of like amount, after he moved an application for suspension of sentence till filing of appeal.

According to prosecution, four children, aged nine, ten, 11 and 12 years, were killed when the wall of an under-construction unauthorised building collapsed on them in Chhatarpur here on February 26, 2012.

While one child died on the spot, the remaining three died during treatment in a hospital here.

PTI