Express News Service
MUMBAI: A day after a residential building collapsed in the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai leading to the death of 17 people, police arrested Shiva Sena leader Sunil Shitap on Wednesday for allegedly carrying out illegal alterations to the building causing it to collapse.
The building had a nursing home on the ground floor, which was being renovated. Sources said that Shitap, who owned the nursing home, carried out illegal alterations. He was booked for culpable homicide along with other sections of the Indian Penal Code on Monday and was interrogated for around three hours last night. He was arrested at around 7 am on Tuesday morning, police said.
Fire fighters could rescue only 27 residents trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building as the death toll rose to 17. Two wings of the ground plus four storied Sai Darshan collapsed at around 10.45 am on Tuesday . Those rescued were sent to BMC’s Rajawaid hospital, said fire brigade chief Pratap Rahangadale.
CM Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the site late last night had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner to conduct a probe in the reason that caused the disaster, said that police too are conducting their inquiry.
A two-member committee has been appointed that would submit their report within 15 days, BMC commissioner said later.
