Two weeks after Bhendi Bazaar building collapse, Mumbai cops book trust

The JJ Marg police on Wednesday registered an FIR against Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust

A fortnight after the 117-year-old Husaini building collapsed killing 33 people and injuring another 16 people in Bhendi Bazaar in south Mumbai, the police have booked a trust, which owned the building, on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The building collapsed on August 31. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

The building collapsed 48 hours after the August 29 deluge.

The JJ Marg police on Wednesday registered an FIR against Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust. The police said that the trust knew the building was dilapidated but failed to vacate it for demolition.

A press statement issued by the police stated, “Between March 11 till the building collapsed, the trust officials and other people were in the know that the building was dilapidated and must be demolished. MHADA had granted them permission to demolish it. They had prior knowledge that a sudden collapse could lead to deaths and injuries. Despite this, they did not get the building vacated.”

The complainant in the case is Anand Deshmukh, a sub inspector with the JJ Marg police. The case is being investigated by inspector Jaideep Gaikwad. When asked who are the other unidentified people booked, Gaikwad said, “That is part of our investigation. As the investigation progresses,l we will know who all are involved in the case. We will collect reports from all concerned departments.”

The building had 10 houses. Four on the first floor and one each on the floors above. It also housed commercial units such as godowns, a catering business and a fast-food joint on the ground floor of the structure. Five families were residing in the building at the time of collapse. Authorities pulled out a total of 46 people from the rubble.