Consultant Arrested After Shivaji Statue Collapse in Maharashtra Sparks Outrage

Shivaji Statue Collapse in Maharashtra: The arrest follows mounting pressure from Opposition leaders demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.

A consultant involved in the structural design of the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, which recently collapsed, has been arrested. The arrest comes in the wake of protests led by Opposition leaders who have been calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the collapse.

Chetan Patil, the structural consultant responsible for the statue that fell within the Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, was apprehended by Kolhapur Police on Thursday night. Since the incident occurred on Monday, which has caused widespread public outrage and stirred political controversy, Patil had been evading authorities. Meanwhile, the sculptor, Jaydeep Apte, remains at large.

Multiple investigation teams from the Kolhapur Police, Sindhudurg Police, and Thane Police were dispatched to locate the pair, whose mobile phones had been switched off. Patil was eventually apprehended last night.

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, standing 35 feet tall, was unveiled on December 4, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day celebrations held for the first time in Sindhudurg. The statue was intended to honor the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to maritime defense and security, highlighting their historical connection to the modern Indian Navy.

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Following the statue’s collapse, a joint technical committee, led by the Indian Navy and including representatives from the Maharashtra Government and technical experts, is being established to investigate the cause of the incident.

The Opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has accused the ruling government of corruption related to the statue’s construction and has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.