Culpable homicide FIR against five of pvt firm after garden’s gate crash

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Five individuals associated with the private firm responsible for Siddharth Garden's construction and maintenance were booked for culpable homicide and other offences on Thursday, a day after the collapse of the garden's entrance gate that left two women dead.The Kranti Chowk police said the five individuals linked to Prakash Developers included the garden project management consultant and the architect. They have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (endangering life or personal safety of others through rash or negligent behaviour) and 3 (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all), among other charges.The FIR was registered after deputy engineer associated with the build-operate-transfer Sanjay Chamale registered a complaint with the police, accusing the private firm of substandard quality construction of the entry gate and not maintaining it properly. The entrance gate of the garden and nearby shops, among other facilities, were completed on June 23, 2022, on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. Under BOT contract, a private entity finances, builds and operates a facility or infrastructure for a specific period, after which it is transferred back to the public entity.Kranti Chowk police station in-charge Sunil Mane said no arrests were in the case till Thursday evening. "We are investigating the ownership and promoter details of the accused private firm. Necessary action will be taken after the initial inquiry is complete," the officer said.Civic activists have called for strict action against municipal officials who failed to ensure the garden's proper maintenance by the private firm, despite highlighting safety concerns about the entrance gate last Nov. Records show that the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation wrote to the firm on Nov 6 last year, pointing out safety issues, but no follow-up action was taken."It was the duty of the civic officials to prevail upon the private firm and ensure proper upkeep of the facility. Merely writing a letter and then doing nothing to ensure public safety is also a grave crime," civic activist Rajendra Datey Patil said. Top civic officials could not be reached for their comments till going to press.The Siddharth Garden also houses the only zoo in Marathwada and witnesses a heavy footfall of visitors.