‘Lapses on part of MCD officials, cops’

The Delhi Police on Wednesday told a court here that the Chandni Mahal building collapse tragedy could have been averted had its officials and MCD been more vigilant.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday told a court here that the Chandni Mahal building collapse tragedy could have been averted had its officials and MCD been more vigilant.

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“Discrepancies/lapses on part of MCD officials and staff of Chandni Mahal police station have been found,” it said in an inquiry report filed before special judge AK Mendiratta.

The inquiry report was filed in pursuance of December 31, 2011 order, by which the court had sought a probe into the role of police and MCD officials in the Chandni Mahal building collapse.

The Delhi Police said a work-stop notice was issued by MCD on September 16, 2011, but “the junior engineer and the assistant engineer of the city zone did not take any action to stop the demolition/ construction work”.

“If the MCD officer had taken suitable action to stop work at 833, Chandni Mahal, the tragedy that occurred on September 27, 2011, could have been averted,” it said in the inquiry report.

“Inspector Satish Kain, the then SHO Chandni Mahal and ASI Shish Pal, division officer of the area, also failed to serve the work-stop notice instantly upon the owner and contractor,” the police said.