2 more held in Thane collapse case
The Thane police made two more arrest on Monday in the Lucky Compound Building collapse case, which claimed 74 lives and left 61 injured.
The accused have been identified as Rafiq Kamdar (44) and Farooq Chapra (59). Kamdar’s role was limited to that of a mediator in the conception and construction of the project, while Chapra was the architect. “Chapra was involved in designing the building and other coordination with the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC),” said additional commissioner of police (crime) Milind Bharambe.
“Chapra is not qualified to construct such a building, but he still planned the structure. Kamdar acted as a mediator between the arrested civic officials and the builders of the ill-fated building,” said a senior police officer from the Thane police. “Kamdar also ran a local newspaper Aapka Buland Ujala in the region. Investigations revealed that he had also clicked photographs of illegal buildings and took money from builders,” the officer added further.
The police also suspects that there are many more TMC officials, who may be involved in collaborating with the builders in carrying out illegal constructions in the area.
A senior police official, requesting anonymity said, “We are certain that there are a few more civic officials who are hand-in-glove with these builders who carry out illegal constructions. We are working on certain leads; interrogation of the arrested accused may give more information.”
In a related development, the Thane police has dispatched teams to get hold of other associates of the two builders, Abdul Siddique and Jamil Shaikh, who were allegedly involved in building the illegal building in Lucky Compound.
“We are looking out for seven more associates of the two builders who had stakes in the building,” said a senior police officer from Thane police.
“The builders constructed the buildings without any permissions whatsoever. Further, while selling the flats in the building, they showed their customers forged certificates of permission, ostensibly from the TMC. Both buildings are of five storeys and are located in the vicinity of the Mumbra railway station,” said deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dudhe, Zone 1, Thane.
Senior police inspector Arun Sonde, Mumbra police station added that contractor Mehboob Sheikh, who was given the contract to build one of the buildings — Sai Nivas — was arrested on Monday. The building is under construction, with four floors complete and several flats already sold to people, the police said.
Sheikh and the three absconding accused have been charged with cheating, impersonation, forgery and endangering life, and personal safety under the Indian Penal Code.
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