The Thane police on Sunday arrested nine people in relation to the Lucky Building in Mumbra, which collapsed on Thursday, claiming 74 lives and leaving 35 injured. The arrests took place after the police found a meticulously maintained document from the house of builder Jamil Qureshi of monetary transactions detailing what amounts were paid and to whom in bribe.
The police arrested nine people, including three civic officials, one policeman and two civilians, who are alleged to have acted as agents and a corporator.
The police has received their custody for 14 days and will be interrogating them to ascertain how far the nexus is rooted. Qureshi was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, while Sheikh was arrested from Thane. The police then raided both their residences in Kausa, Mumbra and the found several incriminating documents.
“The documents clearly prove that the two builders paid lakhs of rupees more than once to civic and police officials lest they interfere with their illegal construction. The building that collapsed was constructed in merely two-and-a-half to three months,” said Thane police commissioner K.P. Raghuvanshi.
Based on the evidence, the police from Saturday night to Sunday morning, arrested deputy municipal commissioner Deepak Chavan, assistant municipal commissioner Babasaheb Andhale, Thane Municipal Corporation’s senior clerk Kisan Madke, NCP corporator Hira Patil, head constable, Jehangir Sayyed, Diaghar police station, building material supplier Afroze Ansari and real estate agent Sayyed Jabbar Patel. All nine have been remanded to police custody till April 20, the police said.
“Our investigations have revealed a larger racket, where flats in illegally constructed buildings are handed over to residents within days of completion of construction. The flats in these buildings would then be occupied as soon as they were ready. It is harder for the TMC for demolish the building once it is occupied by residents,” Mr Raghuvanshi said.
All the accused have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as well as criminal conspiracy. As there are public servants involved, the police have also invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case.
“`5 lakhs and some property-related documents were found during a search at Chavan’s residence. The houses of the other accused are also being searched...,” said Mr Raghuvanshi.