The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the bail pleas of Shiv Sena worker Sunil Shitap and interior work contractor Ranjit Agale in the Ghatkopar building collapse, which claimed 17 lives. A Single Bench of Justice A.S. Gadkari held that “serious complicity has been brought on record” and they do not deserve to be released on bail.
Mr. Shitap and Mr. Agale had approached the High Court for bail after a sessions court rejected their applications in October last year. Eight family members of victims of the tragedy and two flat owners had also moved the court as interveners and opposed their bail pleas.
Extensive alterations
On July 25 last year, two wings of the 35-year-old Sai Darshan building, on LBS Road in Ghatkopar (West), collapsed. Mr. Shitap, along with his wife and mother, bought four flats in the building and converted them into commercial premises without prior permissions or consent of the society. In July 2017, he carried out extensive alterations. The accused removed all the load-bearing internal walls besides six columns and beams of the building. It is stated that the remaining load-bearing beams and columns had been tampered with and the plaster of the columns were also removed.
According to the police, Mr. Shitap had retained all four top posts in the society committee for himself and was in constant conflict with several residents over several issues.
Mr. Shitap and Mr. Agale are currently lodged in Thane Central prison. Mr. Agale, who was absconding in the aftermath of the collapse, is accused of drawing up plans for a renovated maternity home on the ground floor of the building. Their bail pleas were opposed by the relatives and family members of those who lost their lives in the collapse.
On August 24 last year, the City Civil and Sessions Court denied bail to Mr. Shitap. While rejecting the bail, the court held he knew about the changes made to the structure and that what he was going to do with it would be harmful.
A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation enquiry blamed Mr. Shitap for the loss of life and property. He has been booked under Section 304 (causing death by negligence), Section 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and Section 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.