Ghatkopar building collapse: Shiv Sena leader, supervisor to appear in Mumbai court today

Mumbai police will seek to extend custody of the two as they want to arrest more accused, such as the architect who is in hiding

The two men who were arrested in connection with the Ghatkopar building collapse, in which 17 were killed and 12 hurt, will be produced before a court in Vikhroli on Wednesday.

Seventeen people died as the five-storey building near Shreyas cinema in Ghatkopar collapsed on July 25. (HT File)

Shiv Sena leader Sunil Sitap and supervisor Anil Mandal were remanded in police custody, which ended today.

Police said they will seek to extend custody of the two as they want to arrest more people who have been accused in connection with the case, such as the architect who is in hiding. “We will arrest all those accused of tampering with the structure” said a police officer.

Police also want to verify allegations that structural changes to Sitap’s nursing home on the ground floor of the building led to the collapse.

Sitap, who owned the property, had allegedly ordered Mandal to monitor the daily progress of the renovation work, pay the labourers and arrange for construction material.

The accused were booked under sections 304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.