Mumbra massacre: 9 in cop custody

The nine people arrested in the Shil Phata (Thane) building collapse were on Sunday sent to police custody till April 20.

Among the arrested are the builders, Thane municipal corporation (TMC) officials, a policeman, and a politician. The police have also found incriminating evidence that might lead to the arrest of another 40 people. The toll till now is: 74 (26 males, 19 females, and 29 children) dead and 62 injured.

By Saturday night, builders Salim Siddique and Jamil Shaikh, deputy commissioner Dipak Chavan, assistant commissioner Babasaheb Andhale, senior TMC clerk Kisan Madke, local corporator Hira Patil, supplier Afroze Ansari, head constable of Diaghar police station Jehangir Syed, and agent Jabbar Patel were arrested.

“The builders told us they completed the building in three months by bribing public servants,” Thane police commissioner KP Raghuvanshi said.

“We raided the residence of Dipak Chavan on Saturday night and found Rs5 lakh in cash and some documents regarding the construction.” The builders made two buildings — one collapsed and the other was demolished, he said. 

The police have found a diary, which has details such as the amount of bribe paid and who received it.

“It shows Chavan was paid Rs6 lakh in bribes. And corporator Patil was paid Rs3 lakh,” a police officer said. The bribe rate is suspected to be a lakh per slab/floor for Chavan and Rs50,000 per slab for Patil. “It has minute details like money spent on tea and refreshments.”

Meanwhile, the NCP on Sunday suspended its corporator from Mumbra, Hira Patil, who has been arrested following the building collapse.  Party spokesman Nawab Malik said Patil had also been issued a show-cause notice. “We want to hear him out before taking the next step,” Malik said.

Patil is one of the nine arrested after the building in Shil Phata collapsed on Thursday evening.

@faisaltandel