81-year-old ex-IAF sergeant, wife and son arrested in building collapse probe over property ownership
NEW DELHI: An 81-year-old retired Indian Air Force sergeant, a family-run paying guest accommodation and a string of properties in Gurgaon have emerged as key elements in the investigation into the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people. His 75-year-old wife Urmila Gupta and 52-year-old son Mahesh Gupta were also arrested on Monday. Hariram is a resident of Sector 23 in Gurgaon and has another son who is a pilot, according to local police. The five-storey building, spread across around 55 square metres, had two rooms on each floor, with two beds in each room. Renovation work was underway in the basement when the building collapsed around 1.30pm on Sunday. 12 people were rescued from the debris, of whom seven died.
Delhi police are probing the role of Hariram Gupta and his family in the property and the renovation work underway there, news agency PTI reported. Mahesh runs a hardware and paint shop, Hari Paints, in the area, PTI reported. Investigators are likely to seek the remand of Mahesh, who allegedly handled the day-to-day operations of the PG, PTI reported. A case was registered at South Campus Police Station against the accused under charges including culpable homicide, negligence in the upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others. (With agency inputs) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
Police documents showed that Urmila owned the property, while Hariram and Mahesh were involved in managing the PG, according to investigators. Police sources said not all rooms were occupied. A police source said the structure had no columns or beams. Investigators are examining a copy of a rent agreement that allegedly contained a clause absolving the owner of responsibility, a police source said. The rescue operation at the site has been completed, according to authorities. Police said the bodies of all the deceased had been handed over to their families.
Hariram, who was initially believed to be the owner of the decades-old building, was arrested in Bhiwadi on the Haryana-Rajasthan border while allegedly trying to evade arrest. Hariram, a retired Indian Air Force sergeant, had electricity connections for two floors of the building in his name. Police are also examining whether the family owned or operated any other PG facilities in the area. Police are also searching for the PG operators and the labour contractor involved in the renovation work. The basement reportedly had a chronic waterlogging problem. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), however, has denied that any such action had taken place. The circumstances surrounding the building’s condition, the renovation work and the alleged operation of the PG are now among the key aspects being investigated. Download the TOI App.
Police are also verifying claims that the building had been sealed last year.
Neighbours said the family’s house was found locked and Mahesh’s paint shop was shut within hours of the collapse. A neighbour claimed Hariram owns at least four other properties in Gurgaon, though he said he had no knowledge about the Satya Niketan building. The investigation is focused on the family’s alleged role in running the PG and the renovation work underway in the basement, which police suspect may have contributed to the collapse.