Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded to the recent arrest of Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor behind the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, by reinforcing the principle that everyone is equal before the law. Speaking to reporters, Shinde emphasised that Apte's arrest was expected and that the investigation will now proceed.
Shinde expressed his disappointment over the politicisation of the incident, referring to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a revered figure and stating that the circumstances surrounding the statue's collapse were deeply unfortunate.
"I had mentioned earlier that everyone is equal before the law, and his arrest was inevitable. Jaydeep Apte will be thoroughly investigated. The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is sacred to us, and politicising this issue is regrettable," Shinde said.
Jaydeep Apte was apprehended by police earlier today in Thane and is set to be presented before the court in Sindhudurg. According to police sources, Apte's arrest is linked to the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue.
The statue, which stood 35 feet tall, fell on August 26. It was unveiled last December during Navy Day celebrations and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Sindhudurg Police confirmed that Apte was arrested under sections 109, 110, 125, 318, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police also noted that Chetan Patil, the structural consultant involved with the statue, had been arrested earlier in Kolhapur.
The collapse of this significant statue has stirred political tensions, with opposition leaders criticising the Eknath Shinde-led government for the incident. The statue's failure has become a focal point for political debate, underscoring the intense scrutiny faced by state leaders and their responses to the crisis.
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