Shivaji statue collapse: Look out circular issued against contractor Apte
What's the story
The Sindhudurg district police in Maharashtra have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Jaydeep Apte, the contractor responsible for creating the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot fort. The action was taken following the collapse of the statue on August 26, less than nine months after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An LOC is typically issued to airports and other exit points to prevent a person from leaving the country.
Legal proceedings
Sculptor and engineer face charges for statue collapse
Apte, a sculptor based in Thane, executed the contract for the statue's creation. Following its collapse, Malvan police registered a case against him and structural consultant Chetan Patil on charges of negligence and other offenses. While Patil has been arrested from Kolhapur, Apte remains untraceable. The police have now issued an LOC to aid in their search for Apte.
Political fallout
Statue collapse sparks political controversy ahead of elections
The collapse of the statue, which represents the iconic founder of the Maratha state, has ignited a significant political controversy ahead of Maharashtra's assembly elections. Locals in Sindhudurg have accused the Public Works Department (PWD) of remaining silent for months after assuming responsibility for maintaining the statue site from the Navy. They also claimed that neither PWD nor Navy raised any concerns about its safety during installation.
Ongoing search
Search intensifies for missing sculptor amid safety concerns
Meanwhile, Apte and his family have reportedly moved to an unknown location due to safety concerns. Sindhudurg district Superintendent of Police Saurabh Kumar Agrawal confirmed that the police have formed teams to locate him and are seeking assistance from authorities in two-three districts. "By issuing the lookout notice, the airport and other authorities have been alerted about Apte," Agrawal stated.