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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to the structural consultant arrested in connection with the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra.

A single-judge bench of the high court comprising Justice Anil Kilor heard the bail plea filed by Chetan Patil, who was arrested by the police.

The statue collapsed on August 26, nine months after Prime Minister Modi inaugurated it.

Patil contended that he had only provided a stability report for the platform on which the statue was erected, and that too on his friend’s request.

The high court, while granting bail to Chetan Patil, observed that he had only provided the structural report for the pedestal of the statue, which remained intact even after the statue collapsed.

Another sculptor, Jaydeep Apte, who was also arrested in connection with the incident, had approached the high court after his bail plea was rejected by the sessions court.

The high court has scheduled Apte’s bail application hearing for November 25.

Additionally, a PIL has been filed in the high court seeking action against Public Works Department (PWD) officials responsible for constructing the 40-foot Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue.

The plea, filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar, alleges that the statue was built without conducting necessary environmental assessments or considering the impact of wind speed. It further states that the materials used, including salty ingredients that could rust the metal and inadequately fitted nuts and bolts, contributed to the statue's collapse.

The PIL further states that the state is responsible for the international shame brought to the country due to the crashing of a statue built 9 months ago.