A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled last year at Rajkot Fort, collapsed on August 26, 2024.
Authorities in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district have arrested structural consultant Chetan Patil in connection with the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which occurred at Rajkot Fort. The arrest was made on August 30, 2024, in Kolhapur, as confirmed by local police.
Patil was taken into custody late on August 29 and subsequently handed over to Sindhudurg police for further investigation, according to Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit.
As investigations continued, Patil denied any responsibility for the statue, asserting that he was only involved in the design of its platform. He claimed his designs were submitted to the Indian Navy through the state’s Public Works Department, distancing himself from the statue’s construction.
During an interview, Patil stated, “A Thane-based company was responsible for the statue-related work. My involvement was solely in the platform construction.”
The 35-foot statue of the legendary Maratha warrior king, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on Navy Day (December 4) last year, collapsed unexpectedly around 1 pm on Monday, triggering significant controversy. The incident has led to criticism of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government, with opposition parties expressing their outrage. Shinde mentioned that the statue was designed and constructed by the Indian Navy.
