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Gurugram: SIT records statement of Chintels residents, IIT team conducting audit

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted two days after multiple ceilings in Tower D of Chintels Paradiso in Sector 109 collapsed on February 10, killing two residents, recorded statements of an IIT Delhi team conducting the structural audit and the aggrieved residents on Saturday

Published on: Feb 19, 2022, 22:22:00 IST
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A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted two days after multiple ceilings in Tower D of Chintels Paradiso in Sector 109 collapsed on February 10, killing two residents, recorded statements of an IIT Delhi team conducting the structural audit and the aggrieved residents on Saturday.

Gurugram, India - Feb. 19, 2022: Residents shifts their belongings from Tower D at Chinrel Paradiso, where multiple ceilings had collapsed on February 10, in Gurugram , India, on Saturday, February 19, 2022. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times) (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)
Gurugram, India - Feb. 19, 2022: Residents shifts their belongings from Tower D at Chinrel Paradiso, where multiple ceilings had collapsed on February 10, in Gurugram , India, on Saturday, February 19, 2022. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times) (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Rajeev Kumar Yadav, an assistant commissioner of police who is heading the SIT, said the team has prepared an outline of the building collapse and recorded statements of over 20 families regarding the issues they are facing. “We are coordinating with the IIT Delhi team and the district town planner to ensure we don’t miss out on any detail. We are focusing on making a strong case and will submit an investigation history in court once all the evidence is ready,” he said.

Yadav said they have also asked private architects and structural engineers for a second opinion. “We have served notices to the people involved in the construction of the project and them to furnish a project report of the building,” he said, adding that they have also asked the DTCP to furnish documents regarding the project.

Police have registered two cases at Bajghera police station in connection with the collapse at Chintels Paradiso. The first FIR in the case was filed on February 10 on a complaint by the husband of one of the victims of the tragedy. The second FIR, naming all the directors of Chintels India Limited, Ashok Solomon, chairman of the Chintels India Ltd, the structure engineer, architect and the contractor, was registered on February 13 by district town planner (enforcement) RS Bhath.

Police said the IIT Delhi team is still conducting the structural safety audit and is yet to submit its report. They said they visited the spot on Saturday, collected samples from the damaged structure and sent them to the forensic science laboratory, Madhuban.

“We are waiting for the structural audit report regarding the reasons for the collapse from the department of town and country planning (DTCP, which requested IIT Delhi to conduct the structural audit in accordance with the chief minister’s instructions), and further action will be taken in consonance with law,” said police commissioner Kala Ramachandran.

Meanwhile, residents have planned a protest march on Sunday seeking justice for the victims. The residents will assemble at 10.45am at the main gate of Chintels Paradiso and take out the protest march through Chintels Serenity, Brisk Lumbini and Raheja Chowk and congregate at ATS Chowk.

Hem Mishra, one of the residents of Tower D, said despite their pleas, the Central government, the state government and the district administration have not taken any action against the developer even 10 days after the incident.

“We have decided to take out a protest march to press our demand for the arrest of those involved in the case. The promoters and directors of Chintels India Ltd and its sister companies, and the officials involved in the process of issuing occupation certificate should be arrested,” said Mishra.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More