CM assures collapsed house residents of strictest action on Sena’s Sunil Shitap
DEMANDS House owners seek trial of accused for murder, sealing of his benami properties Fadnavis said the government will proceed according to the law. “If we book him under wrong charges, he would get the advantage, which has to be avoided,” he said
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday assured strictest action on Sena member Sunil Shitap who has emerged as the main accused in the collapse of Ghatkopar’s Siddhi Sai Apartment.
Led by the local legislator Ram Kadam, residents and owners of the collapsed house, submitted a letter to Fadnavis and housing minister Prakash Mehta demanding that Sunil Shitap’s benami properties and all others be sealed and that he should be held for murder under IPC Section 302.
They also demanded that he should also be tried under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, (MCOCA)’.
The chief minister assured the aggrieved residents of the strictest action on Shitap.
Binita Ramchandani, an affected resident, spoke to Fadnavis asking for the government to slap severe charges on Shitap. "He had planned this murder and destruction of our building. He was the secretary and he would always threaten us residents. He would often show his licensed pistol which he carried. He would tell us often he has a gun in one pocket and the BMC in the other,” said Ramchandani.
To which another resident added, “Under section 304 (2) he would get bail and would be free. Instead he should be given the death sentence. The government should set an example to ensure such incidents do not occur again. Once he comes out he will definitely destroy all the evidence.”
After the building collapsed on Tuesday, residents have been staying with relatives and neighbours have been giving them food. The residents appealed to the government to give them temporary accommodation and hasten the redevelopment of their building.
Lalit Vithal Thak sustained injuries on his head and has barely recovered after performing the last rites on his wife, daughter and mother. Thak had recently bought an apartment in the building for Rs 50 lakh and also taken a loan. "The flat cost me Rs 50 lakh and now I have to still repay for a fallen apartment. I have asked the government to convert my loan for the new apartment the government has promised us. Till then what am I supposed to do? I need temporary premises now,” said Thak.
Housing minister Prakash Mehta assured the residents of making arrangements within two days. “There are few premises on LBS road for project-affected people and there are around 15 such premises in which we can accommodate these 11 families," said Mehta.
He further said that the redevelopment of the building would be done in a way that the residents would not have to pay for the cost.
“After the intervention of the CM we are deciding on how the work on the buildings planned on this plot can be hastened. We are working in a way that residents would not have to pay,” said Mehta.
Speaking to the CM, the residents asserted that the government would have to ensure that the accused Shitap would be disallowed from purchasing a flat in the building being planned.
Fadnavis assured the residents that the government would proceed as per the law. “We will proceed according to the law. More than emotions, we need to see what the law is. If we book him under wrong charges, he would get the advantage, which has to be avoided. In fact, the police and we feel strongly feel that the accused should be booked under strict sections,” assured Fadnavis.