Maharashtra CM Vows Investigation After Arrest of Sculptor in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde affirms impartiality of law following the arrest of sculptor Jaydeep Apte over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue. The incident has ignited political controversy in the state.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday reassured citizens that the law treats everyone equally following the arrest of Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue. Shinde emphasized that Apte will be thoroughly investigated. 'I had said this earlier; everyone is equal before the law and he was bound to get arrested... Jaydeep Apte will now be investigated. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our god and what happened was very unfortunate. Politizing the matter is very unfortunate,' the Chief Minister told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Jaydeep Apte was apprehended by the police in Thane and is set to be presented before a competent court later today, according to Sindhudurg Police. 'Sindhudurg Police has arrested sculptor Jaydeep Apte in connection with the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He has been taken from Thane to Sindhudurg and will be produced before the competent court later today,' police officials stated. Notably, Chetan Patil, the structural consultant for the statue, was earlier arrested from Kolhapur.

The collapse of the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which occurred on August 26, has sparked considerable political turmoil in the state. The statue, unveiled on December 4 last year during Navy Day celebrations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a significant landmark. Sindhudurg Police confirmed registering an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 109, 110, 125, 318, and 3(5). The opposition has heavily criticized the Eknath Shinde-led government over the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)