look news india
Mumbai: Sculptor Jaideep Apte, the prime accused in the demolition of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, who were arrested earlier, have been remanded to police custody till September 10.
Sindhudurg police told the court that cut material was used to make the 35 feet high statue. It is necessary to investigate whether the statue of the Maratha king fell on the Rajkot fort nine months after it was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Navy Day on August 26. The incident of the statue falling caused a lot of discontent among the citizens of the state. After this, Apte absconded. A lookout notice was also issued against him. Apte was caught by the police 11 days later. Patil was arrested from Kolhapur on August 30.
Apte was produced before a court in Malvan and the court granted him custody. Today, after Patil's custody ended, he was produced before the court and he has also been granted police custody till September 10. The police told the court that they are yet to investigate from where the accused had procured the material to construct the statue. Nutbolts, iron rods and other items were found broken into pieces. Police said samples of the material used for the statue are also to be collected while constructing and designing the statue. It also remains to be seen whether issues of high winds, water, earthquakes and geology were considered. Police said it is yet to be ascertained whether the accused were aware of its durability while designing it.
Police said the accused has not yet received a copy of the original work order given by the government, it is necessary to check the terms and conditions mentioned in the order. Apte has provided 16 pages detailing the stability, analysis and design of the statue.
Apte's arguments before the court
Fallen statue in America: How crime takes place in natural events
Apte's lawyer told the court that he has to surrender on Wednesday and he is ready to cooperate in the investigation. There is a preparation to give all the information about the statue to the police. The lawyer further argued that there was strong wind at the place where the statue was installed. Tenders were duly filled. Our client's company was given the work. Rs 2.44 crore was given for this. While erecting the statue, the joints cracked. The statue was made of bronze. The statue was broken in a similar way in Ujjain. Tourists were not present there when the statue fell. There is no report of anyone being injured. Therefore no section applies. There was no intention to make a mannequin. The nutbolts are not visible from outside. The mannequin was hollow from inside. The statue of the President also fell in America. Custody is being sought for a copy of the work order. Where does the crime occur in this natural incident? It was also said that the FIR was registered after ten hours.
The FIR was filed in haste and the government should have formed a committee of experts to find out the reason for the fall of the statue. If the committee's report reveals someone's involvement, a case can be filed. A case cannot be filed as there is no scientific report.
Idols were broken in Ujjain too, no case was registered before the expert's investigation report