Shiv Se leader arrested for Mumbai building crash

Mumbai, July 26: Shiv Se leader Sunil Shitap was arrested here on Wednesday and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with Tuesday’s building crash which claimed 17 lives, an official said on Wednesday. Shitap, who was detained on Tuesday night, was formally arrested early on Wednesday and slapped with various charges under the Indian Pel Code. According to police and BMC, Shitap was the owner of a nursing home on the ground floor of the four-storey dilapidated private building, Sai Darshan in Ghatkopar, which had 15 flats.

Prelimiry investigation reveal that Shitap was allegedly carrying out illegal repairs and renovation of the nursing home to convert it into a guest house. He reportedly demolished a supporting main pillar of the building which could have weakened the old structure and led to its sudden collapse on Tuesday morning.

The building residents and neighbours said they had repeatedly warned Shitap against making any structural changes but he ignored their pleas. The crash found its echo in the monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly which was adjourned thrice on Wednesday morning as a belligerent opposition demanded a discussion. (IANS)