Surat building collapse: Caretaker sent to police remand, hunt for 2 owners on

Seven persons were killed and one injured when the building collapsed in Sachin area around 2.45 pm on Saturday.

The dilapidated building was occupied by labourers who shared rented rooms, with many also staying with their families.

Based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector V V Patel of Sachin GIDC police, an FIR was registered against Ashwin, Raj and Ramila under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 54 (abettor present when act or offence is committed) on Sunday. Ashwin was arrested the same day, while a hunt to arrest Raj and Ramila is underway.

Ashwin was on Monday produced before the Surat district court, which sent him to two-day police custody — until 4 pm on July 10.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sachin GIDC police Inspector J R Chaudhary said: “Ashwin used to collect rent from the tenants and then hand it over to Ramila. We have submitted a seven-point remand application before the court, stating that after the building collapsed, Ashwin had asked Ramila to hide important building registry documents and then escape.”

“We informed the court that we wanted to analyse the building documents, and then arrest Ramila. Also, we are working on issuing a red corner notice against Raj,” he added.

“The tenants of Kailashraj Residency had complained to Ashwin many times about cracks in the building’s beams, columns and walls, stating that repairs are needed, but nothing was done. The SMC (Surat Municipal Corporation) had also issued multiple notices to the building owners, citing its poor condition,” said Chaudhary.