Maharashtra structural consultant arrested in connection with Shivaji statue collapse

Kolhapur (Maharashtra) August 30 2024 : Chetan Patil, a structural consultant from Kolhapur, was arrested early Friday morning in connection with the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The 35-foot statue, which had been unveiled less than nine months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, collapsed on August 26 at Rajkot fort in Malvan, triggering significant political and public backlash. Patil, who was apprehended in a coordinated effort by the Kolhapur crime branch and Malvan police, was transferred to Malvan police custody. Despite being named in the FIR, Patil has denied serving as the structural consultant for the statue. He claimed his role was limited to overseeing the platform construction, while a separate company based in Thane was responsible for the statue itself.

The incident has intensified political debate in Maharashtra, which is approaching state elections. The collapse of the statue has prompted the Eknath Shinde-led government to establish a technical committee to investigate the reasons behind the failure. The state government has also pointed out that the Indian Navy managed the project, with state funds allocated for its execution. In response to the statue’s collapse, the Indian Navy issued a statement affirming its commitment to support repair and restoration efforts. The Navy clarified that it was responsible for the conceptualization and execution of the statue installation project, in collaboration with the state government.

The political fallout from the collapse has seen members of the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, staging silent protests across Maharashtra. The protests reflect widespread dissatisfaction and concerns over the handling of the project. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde publicly expressed his remorse over the incident, emphasizing his readiness to make amends. He urged opposition parties to refrain from politicizing the issue and emphasized that the state government is working diligently to address the situation.

Shinde also announced the formation of two committees: one to investigate the collapse and another dedicated to the rapid reconstruction of the statue. The Chief Minister assured that efforts are underway to build a grander statue of Shivaji Maharaj as soon as possible, underscoring the state’s commitment to honoring the Maratha warrior’s legacy despite the recent setback.