Sculptor Jaydeep Apte was arrested by Kalyan Police on the night of September 4, 2024, in connection with the collapse of a 35-foot-tall Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg. The statue, which had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023, collapsed on August 26, triggering a political controversy and raising questions about the quality of the statue’s construction (Mid-day, India Today).
Apte, who had been on the run since the collapse, was apprehended after police received crucial information from his wife. He had returned home briefly under the cover of darkness to meet his wife and mother, which allowed the police to track him down ( Marathi News Esakal )
A Look Out Circular (LOC) had previously been issued against him to prevent him from fleeing the country (Mid-day).
The collapse of the statue led to widespread political accusations, with opposition leaders alleging corruption and negligence by the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Apte’s lack of experience in constructing large statues had also come under scrutiny, as his prior work involved much smaller sculptures (India Today)
Following his arrest, Apte was taken to Malvan for further investigation. Police are continuing their inquiry into the incident, with potential revelations expected as the case progresses (Marathi News Esakal)
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