Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar: Efforts to rebuild Shivaji Maharaj statue underway, arrests made

Malvan (Maharashtra) [India], August 30 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited the site in Malvan where the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed on August 26.

Pawar stated, “Everyone is saddened by what has happened. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our deity, and we are all proud of his legacy. The Chief Minister has held meetings regarding this incident. Efforts are being made to rebuild the memorial. Action will be taken against those responsible. No matter where they flee, they will be found. There is no point in debating whether it was the Navy or the PWD.”

He added that the government is committed to ensuring that a grand and divine memorial for the Maharaja is rebuilt.

In a post on X, Ajit Pawar said, “A few days ago, the unfortunate incident involving the statue of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan occurred. Today, I visited the site and reviewed the situation. I also inspected the fort. Shivaji Maharaj is our self-respect, our identity.”

He mentioned that in the future, priority will be given to past experience when awarding contracts.

Earlier, Chetan Patil, the structural consultant for the Shivaji Maharaj statue that collapsed in Malvan, Sindhudurg, was arrested in Kolhapur, according to senior Kolhapur Police officials.

A team from the local crime branch of Kolhapur Police launched an operation to locate Patil, and he was arrested at around 12:30 am on Friday in Kolhapur. He has been handed over to the Sindhudurg Police and will be brought to Sindhudurg today.

The Sindhudurg Police have also arrested a contractor in connection with the case.

“Police have arrested a contractor in the case of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue collapse in Malvan, Sindhudurg. The accused structural consultant, Chetan Patil, has also been arrested in Kolhapur. The local crime branch team apprehended him. Chetan will be brought to Sindhudurg today,” stated officials from the Sindhudurg Police.

An FIR was registered at Sindhudurg Police Station following the collapse of the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on August 26.

On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state government is making decisions on a war footing to reconstruct the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Two committees have been formed, including one to investigate the statue’s collapse in Malvan.

The statue was unveiled on December 4 last year as part of Navy Day celebrations, which were conducted for the first time in Sindhudurg. The event was aimed at honouring the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to maritime defence and security, and its historical connection with the modern Indian Navy, according to a release from the Defence Ministry.