Chhatrapati Statue Crash: The artist who sculpted the ill-fated statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jaydeep Apte, plans to challenge the serious charges against him. His lawyer, Ganesh Sovani, criticized the charges of “attempt to murder” and “culpable homicide” as baseless. Apte, along with structural consultant Chetan Patil, faces charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after the statue’s collapse at Rajkot Fort on August 26.
Arrest and Charges
Apte and Patil were arrested following a complaint from the Public Works Department (PWD). The 28-foot bronze statue crashed due to harsh weather conditions, leading to a massive public outcry. Although there were no reported injuries, Apte and Patil were accused of endangering public life.
Despite claims of conspiracy and negligence, Sovani argued the charges were rushed and without proper scientific investigation. He highlighted that Apte had not received advance payments for the project and had used a bank loan to complete the work.
Legal Challenges Ahead
The police argue they need to investigate whether technical aspects like weather conditions were considered during the statue’s design. They also seek to trace Apte’s movements after the incident. Sovani, however, called for an expert panel to assess the cause of the collapse before filing any charges.
The political fallout has been swift, with opposition leaders accusing the government of corruption, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issuing an apology. The government has since formed a technical committee to investigate and plans to erect a new statue soon.
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