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The collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Maharashtra, has sparked controversy and led to the arrest of sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte. Apte, a 24-year-old Thane-based sculptor, was responsible for creating the 35-foot statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. Despite having no prior experience in constructing large statues, Apte was entrusted with the project, raising questions about the selection process and oversight.
Following the statue's collapse on August 26, an FIR was filed against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence and other offenses. While Patil was arrested last week, Apte remained untraceable for nearly 10 days. Seven police teams were formed to locate him, and a Look Out Circular was issued to prevent him from leaving the country. Apte was eventually apprehended from Kalyan in Thane district.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. They view the statue's collapse as an insult to the legacy of the 17th-century Maratha emperor and are calling for accountability. The Congress has also questioned Prime Minister Modi's role in the incident, demanding an apology.
The Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) has attributed the collapse to poor quality construction, citing rusted nuts and bolts. The PWD also blamed the Indian Navy for rushing the project to complete it before its slated inauguration on Navy Day. The Indian Navy, however, has maintained that it played a key role in conceptualizing and steering the project in coordination with the state government, which provided funding.
The controversy surrounding the statue's collapse highlights issues of transparency, accountability, and the quality of infrastructure projects in India. The incident has also raised concerns about the political implications of such projects and the potential for manipulation for political gain.
Source: Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse: Who is sculptor Jaydeep Apte? How was he arrested?