Thane building collapse: Civic official arrested

With the arrest of a Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation tonight, the number of arrests in connection with the building collapse in Mumbra area has gone up to 22.

With the arrest of a Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation tonight, the number of arrests in connection with the building collapse in Mumbra area has gone up to 22.

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DMC Srikant Sarmokdam, whose name was found in the diary of the builder (already arrested), was taken into custody, police said here.

Police had deferred arresting him because of a death in his family. Sarmokdam was due to retire soon, police added.

Seventy-four people died when a 7-story unauthorised building in Shil-Phata area near Mumbra in the district collapsed earlier this month.

The builders had allegedly bribed the corporation officials to turn a blind eye to the construction.