Shivaji statue collapse: Seven teams deployed to trace sculptor Jaydeep Apte; Congress hints at corruption

Maharashtra police search for sculptor Jaydeep Apte over collapsed Shivaji statue, amid corruption allegations by Congress.

Police in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district have pressed more than seven teams to track down sculptor and contractor Jaydeep Apte, booked over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at Rajkot fort, an official said on Wednesday (September 4, 2024).

Police have been searching for 24-year-old Apte since the day of the collapse on August 26, but he has remained untraceable, the official said.

The Sindhudurg police have also issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Mr. Apte to prevent him from leaving the country through sea ports, airports and all other exit points, he said.

Teams of Sindhudurg police are searching for him at places, including Mumbai, Thane, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur. Some of the teams are using technical help to apprehend the accused, the official said.

A police team had visited Mr. Apte’s residence at Dudhnaka in Kalyan of Thane district, but it was locked, he said.

Mr. Apte had executed the contract to make the 35-foot statue of the Maratha warrior king that was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the fort in Malvan tehsil on Navy Day, December 4, last year.

After the statue collapsed, the Malvan police registered a case against Mr. Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil for negligence and other offences. Mr. Patil was arrested from Kolhapur last week.