An FIR has been registered against the contractor and structural consultant responsible for the construction of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, following its collapse on Monday (August 26)—just eight months after its grand unveiling by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statue, which was inaugurated on December 4, 2023, was a centrepiece of the region, symbolising the legacy of the Maratha warrior king.
The FIR names contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, charging them under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include allegations of collusion, fraud, and endangering public safety. The complaint, lodged by the Public Works Department (PWD), points to substandard construction materials and methods as the primary cause of the statue’s collapse. The PWD’s investigation revealed that the ‘nuts and bolts’ used in the structure were severely rusted, raising concerns about the integrity of the construction.
Local residents and tourists had previously voiced their concerns about the statue’s deteriorating condition. Despite these warnings, which included an official alert from the assistant engineer of the Malvan division of the PWD on August 20, no preventive measures were taken. The PWD had explicitly stated that the rusting of the nuts and bolts posed a serious risk to the statue’s stability, but these warnings were ignored.
Sindhudurg Guardian Minister Ravindra Chavan confirmed that the PWD had communicated concerns about the rusting steel to Navy officials, requesting immediate action.
The statue’s construction began on September 8, with the Indian Navy tasked with erecting both the statue and its pedestal. The unveiling ceremony took place on Navy Day, December 4, at Rajkot Fort, with Prime Minister Modi presiding.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, addressing the incident, attributed the collapse to strong winds that were reportedly blowing at 45 km per hour at the time. However, the Opposition has been quick to criticise the government, accusing it of negligence and corruption.
The political fallout has been swift. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) state president Jayant Patil has accused the government of prioritising the event’s grandeur over the quality of the work. Similarly, NCP (SP) leader MP Supriya Sule has demanded a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind the statue’s poor construction. Leaders from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) like Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray have alleged that the statue’s construction was rushed, with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In response to the incident, the Indian Navy has deployed a team to investigate the cause of the collapse. The Navy has also committed to repairing, restoring, and reinstating the statue at the earliest possible time. Public Works Minister Ravindra Chavan has visited the site on the orders of Chief Minister Shinde to assess the situation.
