Arrest Made in Case of Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue Collapse in Maharashtra

Sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte, wanted for the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot fort, was apprehended in Kalyan, Thane district, on Wednesday night. Sindhudurg police had been searching for Apte since the statue fell on August 26, less than nine months after its inauguration.

Following the incident, Malvan police filed a case against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence. Patil was arrested from Kolhapur last week. The collapse has sparked a significant political controversy ahead of Maharashtra's assembly elections, with the Opposition criticising the Eknath Shinde-led government.

Political Reactions to Arrest

BJP leader Pravin Darekar commented on the arrest by stating, "Those who were critical of our government must shut their mouths now. It is true that police took a little long to arrest Jaydeep Apte. We are not taking any credit for arresting, but the police did their job." In contrast, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sushama Andhare remarked, "The state government should not try to take any credit for arresting Apte because it is the government's duty. He was not some underworld don....He should have been arrested sooner."

A joint technical committee of five members visited the fort at Malvan to examine the site. An official mentioned that samples of materials used for the statue and its platform have been sent to a forensic science laboratory for chemical analysis.

Financial Allegations

State Congress chief Nana Patole alleged in Pune that only Rs 1.5 crore were spent on constructing the statue, despite Rs 236 crore being allocated from state funds. Responding to Chief Minister Shinde's claim that the opposition was politicising the incident, Patole said expressing anger over an insult to Shivaji Maharaj cannot be termed as politicising.

The collapse of the statue has led to widespread criticism and political debate. The opposition has used this incident to target the ruling government, questioning their efficiency and accountability.

Police had formed seven teams to locate Apte after the statue's collapse. The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the incident.

The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the exact cause of the statue's failure and hold those responsible accountable.