Satya Niketan PG Collapse: Delhi Court Sends Owner, Wife To Judicial Custody; Son Gets 2-Day Police Remand
Delhi Court remanded Satya Niketan PG building owner Hariram Gupta and his wife to 14 days’ judicial custody, while their son was sent to two days’ police custody in the collapse case that claimed seven lives
Satya Niketan PG Collapse: Delhi Court Sends Owner, Wife To Judicial Custody; Son Gets Police Remand
A Delhi court on Monday remanded building owner Hariram Gupta and his wife Urmila Gupta to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the Satya Niketan PG building collapse case, which claimed seven lives.
Their son, Mahesh Gupta, was remanded to two days of police custody.
The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Bhavaya Karhail of Patiala House Courts after the three accused were arrested and produced before the judge at her residence.
According to the police, Hariram Gupta, 81, was arrested in Bhiwadi while allegedly on the run. His wife Urmila Gupta, 75, and son Mahesh Gupta, 52, were also arrested in connection with the case.
The police have alleged that the electricity connection of the building was in Hariram Gupta's name, while Mahesh was handling its day-to-day management. Documents reportedly showed that the property was registered in Urmila Gupta's name.
The investigation is examining the family's role in running the paying guest accommodation and the renovation work being carried out in the basement, which police suspect may have contributed to the collapse.
The five-storeyed, decades-old building housing a boys' paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan collapsed on Sunday, killing seven people. Police said 12 people were rescued from the debris, while seven of them subsequently died.
The structure, spread over approximately 55 square metres, allegedly did not have columns or beams, according to the police.
A case has been registered at South Campus Police Station under provisions relating to culpable homicide, negligence in the upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others.
The police are also investigating whether the building had been sealed last year. While investigators are verifying the claim, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has denied that any such sealing action had taken place.
Investigators are additionally looking for the alleged PG operators and the labour contractor involved in the renovation work. The probe is also examining a rent agreement which allegedly contained a clause seeking to absolve the owner of responsibility.
Delhi High Court Seeks action over building safety
In a related development, the Delhi High Court has directed the authorities to intensify efforts to save the lives of students affected by the collapse. The High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to take up the issue at the highest executive level and conduct an inquiry into whether the buildings that collapsed had been constructed with valid permissions.
The Court further directed that if any construction is found to have been carried out without valid permission, the MCD must fix responsibility on the officials or employees responsible for the lapse.