The Bombay High Court granted bail to consultant Chetan Patil, who was arrested in connection with the collapse of the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan in Sindhudurg district. The statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Navy Day nine months ago, had fallen on August 26. The incident sparked widespread outrage, prompting the police to take action.
Chetan Patil arrested
Chetan Patil, who was arrested in Kolhapur on August 30, and sculptor-contractor Jaideep Apte were booked under the Indian Justice Code for negligence and other charges related to the collapse.
High Court decision
Justice AS Kilor, who presided over the hearing, ruled that Patil could not be held responsible for the collapse as he was not responsible for the construction of the statue. The court said Patil’s role was limited to submitting the structural stability report of the building, which remained in effect even after the statue fell.
pending petitions
Patil has got bail, but the Supreme Court is going to hear the bail plea of Jaideep Apte on November 25.
