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Mumbai, August 30, 2024 – In a significant development following the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, Chetan Patil, the structural consultant responsible for the statue’s design, was arrested by Kolhapur Police on Thursday night. Patil’s arrest comes after days of public outrage and protests from opposition leaders demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
The collapse occurred on Monday at the Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, where the 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had been erected. The statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, as part of Navy Day celebrations, was intended to honor the Maratha Navy’s legacy and its connection to the modern Indian Navy.
Since the collapse, Patil had been evading authorities, with multiple police teams from Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, and Thane searching for him. The sculptor, Jaydeep Apte, remains at large, with efforts ongoing to locate him.
In response to the incident, a joint technical committee, including representatives from the Indian Navy, the Maharashtra Government, and technical experts, is being formed to investigate the cause of the collapse.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has accused the ruling government of corruption related to the statue’s construction and has called for the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Stay connected with Markable News for further updates on this developing story.
