Bandodkar arrested, murder charge against all involved
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 January 2014 21:51 IST
The arrests in Canacona building collapse mishap began tonight with deputy town planner Prakash Bandodkar arrested by Canacona police.
Meanwhile, Goa government is planning to file a murder case against all those responsible for the collapse of buildings in Canacona, which killed over 25 workers working on the site.
“We will apply section 302 to them, in addition to the existing sections mentioned earlier in the FIR lodged against them”, said chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Canacona police has already filed the FIR based on a complaint filed by the deputy collector, under sections 336, 337, 338 and 304 of Indian Penal Code.
Section 304 pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Other sections relate to the act endangering life or personal safety of others, causing hurt by endangering personal safety and causing grievous hurt.
“Inquiry held later revealed that the contractor and builders were aware that the column has sunk, but still continued with the work. They have also used poor quality construction material which means the outcome in such a manner was known to them”, said chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Bandodkar will be produced before Canacona JMFC tomorrow, seeking remand. He was suspended today evening.
“Another accused, Canacona municipal engineer Ajay Desai, is still absconding”, South Goa SP Shekhar Prabhudesai told goanews.com.
The FIR has been filed against partners of Bharat Developers - Jagdeep Kumar Seghal and Pradeep Singh Birring, local contractor and owner of Coastal Builder Vishwas Desai, RCC consultant, deputy town planner, municipal engineer and others.
While Seghal and Birring are absconding, Desai has moved the Margao district and sessions court for anticipatory bail.
His bail application is expected to come up for hearing tomorrow.
On the other hand, Goa government has suspended three officers – deputy town planner and two municipal engineers – based on preliminary inquiry.
Parrikar however said no police complaint would be filed against the Canacona municipal chairman or the councilors.
“They may be held morally responsible since they have neither signed any document nor taken any resolution for this blatantly illegal construction of Ruby Residency”, he argued.
“Don’t simply politicize the issue,” he shot back when media asked whether local BJP MLA and sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar is involved in the illegalities.
In what way the MLA is connected to this, he asked, while also clarifying that Tawadkar was not the MLA of the area when this project came up in Canacona.
“He has purchased the flats in Ruby Residency through legal means and not as any favour”, claimed Parrikar, dismissing involvement of his minister.
