Collapse Of Shivaji Maharaj Statue Brought 'International Shame' To India: PIL In Bombay High Court Seeks FIR Against PWD Engineers

A former journalist has approached the Bombay High Court seeking registration of First Information Report (FIR) against the engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Maharashtra government's Malwan Division, over the sudden collapse of the 40-feet grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Sindhudurg district.

Unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, the grand statue made of iron collapsed within nine months on August 26. The petition claims that the State as a whole has been responsible for 'international shame' brought to the country by virtue of crashing statue, that was built within seven months.

Taking exception to the incident, former journalist turned activist Ketan Tirodkar has filed a Criminal Public Interest Litigation (CRPIL) highlighting alleged lapses on part of the authorities particularly the Public Works Department, in installing the statue. He has claimed that the statue was constructed in 'haste' within seven months.

The petition states that soon after the statue collapsed, the Assistant Engineer of the PWD registered an FIR against the designer of the statue and structural consultant, leaving out his own self and his colleagues as also the naval engineers who had erected the statue. It further states that Tirodkar had written to the Chief Minister about this 'mischievous' FIR but there has been no response to the said letter. It further alleges that the State is trying to 'shield' its engineers, who built the statue just like 'an irresponsible builder constructing illegal buildings or chawls.'

"The statue was completed in a short period of seven months ranging from June 2023 to November 2023 without taking into account the wind-speed which is beyond 45 kms per hour having salty ingredients capable of causing rust to the metal used in the erection of the statue which it did cause. The locals of Malvan city had noticed the rusted nuts & bolts used in the statue and had reported the dilapidated condition to the PWD in the first half of August 2024. PWD wrote two emails to the designer agency & to the structural consultant and went standstill over the issue shrugging off its responsibility," the petition highlights.

The PIL will be heard in due course.