Maharashtra: Artist and Contractor Charged with Attempted Murder After Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse

Sindhudurg, 27th August 2024: Charges of attempted murder have been brought against artist Jaydeep Apte and structural contractor Chetan Patil following the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Sindhudurg Fort. The Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) lodged a First Information Report (FIR) stating that Rs 2.4 crore had been transferred to the Navy for the construction of the statue.

The FIR also highlighted concerns about the statue’s construction quality, noting that rusted nuts and bolts were found in the structure. “The quality of the construction was clearly compromised, leading to this unfortunate incident,” a PWD official said.

In response to the collapse, Shiv Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar announced on Tuesday that the government would construct a new 100-foot statue of Shivaji Maharaj at the same location. “We are committed to honoring Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, and we will ensure that a new, more durable statue stands in his place,” Kesarkar stated.

Concerns about the statue’s stability were raised earlier by a PWD assistant engineer, who, in a letter dated August 20, 2024, warned naval authorities of the statue’s precarious condition. Following the collapse, a team of Navy officers and PWD officials arrived in Malvan on Tuesday to assess the site. According to sources, the work had been conducted in collaboration with the PWD, which had provided all necessary certifications before the statue’s inauguration. “We are conducting a thorough inspection and will report our findings to the Western Naval Command. The next steps will depend on the report,” a source close to the investigation said.

In a related development, Malvan police on Tuesday charged Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik and his associates, Harishchandra Khobrekar and Mandar Keni, with vandalism at the local PWD office. Video footage widely circulated online showed Naik damaging office property in a fit of rage after learning about the statue collapse. “The MLA and his supporters arrived at the PWD office and began smashing items on the staff’s desks,” said a police official. The trio has been booked for damaging public property and other related offenses.