Kolhapur: The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that fell at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Maharashtra, was made using rusty materials, Sindhudurg Police revealed in court on Thursday.
The court has placed sculptor and contractor Jaydeep Apte, along with consultant Chetan Patil, in police remand till September 10.
Low quality materials used for construction of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue?
According to the police, the materials recovered from the statue showed significant rust. “It needs to be ascertained whether low quality materials were used in the making of the statue or not,” the police said in court. They emphasised the need to question the accused to determine the type of materials used for the 35-foot tall statue.
The statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Navy Day about nine months ago, collapsed on August 26. This incident led to a police investigation and the arrest of Chetan Patil from Kolhapur on August 30. Jaydeep Apte was arrested from Kalyan in Thane district on Wednesday night.
What police told court
During the court proceedings, the police said that “iron rods, nut bolts and other materials used in the construction of the statue were rusted.” They need to investigate the materials used and whether they were of poor quality.
The police also said that it is crucial to collect samples and moulds of the material used. They need to determine if a feasibility audit was conducted before the statue’s construction and if the factors of water, earthquake, wind and local topography were considered. “Additionally, it must be established whether the longevity of the statue was taken into account during its design and construction,” said the police.
