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Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor and contractor of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Rajkot Fort, has been missing for around 10 years since the collapse of the 35-foot-tall statue. 10 days, whereabouts unknown.
Following the collapse, Malvan police registered a case against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence and other offences. Patil was arrested in Kolhapur last week
Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor and contractor behind the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Rajkot Fort that collapsed last month, said on Monday He was arrested at Kalyan in Thane district on three nights.
Apter has been missing for about 10 days since the 35-foot-tall statue collapsed.
Police in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, have been searching for 24-year-old Apte since the statue he made collapsed on August 26, less than nine months after its inauguration. Police formed seven teams to search for him.
Following the collapse, Malvan police registered a case against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence and other offences. Patil was arrested from Kolhapur last week.
Police also sent samples of material from the statue and the platform it stood on to the Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical analysis.
The toppling of the statue of Maratha state's iconic founder has sparked huge political controversy ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections, with the opposition criticizing the Eknath Shinde-led government.
Reacting to the arrest of the sculptor, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said: “Those who criticize our government must shut up now. It is true that the police took a long time to arrest Jaideep. Apter. We don't get any credit for the arrest, but the police did their job.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare said the state government should not take credit for Apte's arrest, stressing that it was the government's responsibility. “He's not some mafia boss… he should have been arrested sooner,” Andhar added.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole, speaking in Pune, claimed that despite an allocation of Rs 236 crore from state funds, only Rs 15 crore was spent on the construction of the statue.
Reacting to state Chief Minister Shinde's claim that the opposition was politicizing the statue's collapse, Patole argued that expressing anger over Shivaji Maharaj's insult cannot be described as politicizing the matter.
(Inputs from PTI)
