Asserting that police had enough evidences to substantiate charges under Sections 304 and 120-B of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act against industrialist Shital Vij, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Navjot Mahal said on Monday that the challan in the case would be submitted well before the stipulated period of 90 days in court.
"Enough evidences against Vij has already been collected and challan would also be submitted within the stipulated period," Mahal, who is heading an enquiry against Vij, told Hindustan Times.
Mahal said that the statements of the injured and the kin of those killed in the factory building collapse, post mortem reports of deceased, statement of officials concerned have already been recorded by police.
"We will not have any difficulty in proving the charges against Vij. Moreover, samples of material used in the construction of the building that collapsed have already been sent to a forensic lab," the police officer said, adding that once it was established that the material used was of low quality, it would strengthen charges against Vij.
On the allegation that by slapping a case against the contractor and driver of a JCB pressed into service for digging at an adjoining plot, police was trying to shield the accused industrialist, Mahal denied the same and said that Vij would not be able to run away from his responsibility as he was the key accused and owner of the building that collapsed.
The ADCP admitted that written explanations from various departments, including Department of Factories, Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) were yet to be submitted and were expected to reach him within a couple of days.
"Once the reports from different department are received, connivance of the government officials will also be probed and if needed, erring officials would also be booked," Mahal added.
Vij was booked under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Prevention of Corruption Act on April 16, a day after his factory building collapsed, in which 23 workers were killed and several others injured.
The ADCP admitted that written explanations from various departments, including Department of Factories, Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) were yet to be submitted and were expected to reach him within a couple of days.
"Once the reports from different department are received, connivance of the government officials will also be probed and if needed, erring officials would also be booked," Mahal added.
Vij was booked under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Prevention of Corruption Act on April 16, a day after his factory building collapsed, in which 23 workers were killed and several others injured.
Vij is currently on judicial remand and undergoing treatment at the local civil hospital, where he was admitted on court's order.
Fate of another enquiry hangs in balance
Fate of another enquiry by divisional commissioner Anurag Verma is hanging in balance as he was sent for training to Musoorie for six weeks and the additional charge of Jalandhar division has been handed over to the divisional commissioner of Patiala, SR Ladhar.
Although Ladhar took charge on Monday, but it could not be known if he could conduct the probe as it was marked by the chief minister to Verma by name.