Sena man responsible for 17 deaths cooling heels

The Shiv Sena leader, who was responsible for death of 17 persons when a building caved in Ghatkopar because of illegal, unauthorised and irresponsible alertation in then ground floor to convert a hospital to a bar, has been arrested and sent out police lock-up.

Meanwhile, the issue figured in both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature - with opposition parties Congress and NCP slamming the Shiv Sena and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the BJP-Sena saffron alliance government.

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (Congress) and his counterpart in Council Dhananjay Munde (NCP) questioned the Devendra Fadnavis-led government on the issue even as Sena tried to distance away from Sunil Shitap, who was arrested by the Parksite police station and sent to police custody till 2 August.

"He does not hold any posts in the Shiv Sena," Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar said.

According to the residents of the building, Shitap used to flaunt his Sena links and threaten and bully other residents and often authorities turned blind eye towards his acts.

Chief minister Fadnavis assured to bring in a policy to ensure structural safety of buildings during redevelopment.

Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar of the NCP said that information available suggests that Chitap was converting the hospital into a bar.

NCP MLA Dr Jitendra Awhad said that BMC officials are hand in gloves and allow illegal alterations. There are several illegal constructions in his constituency as well, BJP MLA Raj Purohit said.