Noose to tighten soon around builders' neck

Noose to tighten soon around builders' neck
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 12: After the investigation, it's time to take action. Investigating officials of 11 city police stations are gearing up to file chargesheets against the 53 builders who have been arrested after the quake.

Most of the ``major'' builders, including those of Shikhar Apartments, Shantanu Apartments and Mansi Complex, have been arrested and the city police have procured plans of the buildings from offices and residences of the builders.

The officers have already collected most evidence required to ``nail'' the builders, except reports of quality of construction material from the National Council of Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM). However, samples of the material have already been sent for examination.

It seems that not even delay on the NCCBM's part to hand over reports will cause a delay on the chargesheet front. That will be done within the specified 90 days, said most police officers, adding that even if they receive reports late, they can add them as additional chargesheets thus preventing the arrested builders from getting an opprtunity to be bailed out.

Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials have also handed over reports of primary investigations about construction material and irregularities in the collapsed buildings -- making the cases against builders stronger.

Statements of witnesses related to the cases, of labour contractors and other associates of arrested builders also have been recorded in most cases.

``Except arrest of Rakesh Shah, builder of three collapsed buildings in Maninagar, we have succeeded in arresting most major builders. We hope that the rest also will be tracked down soon,'' State Home Minister Haren Pandya said. ``So there is no question of delay in filing chargesheets against the arrested builders who are already in Sabarmati Central Jail,'' he added.

Similar sentiments have been echoed by the Additional Commissioner (Sector-I) Shivanand Jha, who has been closely monitoring the cases. ``As we have already arrested most of accused in the cases and have also gathered evidences against them, we are now concentrating on filing chargesheets,'' Jha said.

He also said investigating officers of 11 police stations where such cases have been registered have been ordered to gather evidence against architects and engineers named in the First Information Reports (FIRs).

``Our officers also have been working on arrests of architects and engineers, particularly in cases where the builders have been arrested,'' the Additional Commissioner added.

Meanwhile, the police also have started collecting documentary evidences against accused officials of both AMC and AUDA as they are also accused in the cases. ``We have already collected records from both the civic bodies about involvement of the Town Development Officers (TDO), their deputies of AMC and Town Planners with their deputies of AUDA before we arrest them as we will require evidence to prove them guilty,'' another senior police officer said.

Assistant Commissioner (D-division) G L Singhal said reports of forensic experts already in possession of investigation officers would be sufficient to prove charges before the court. ``There is concrete evidence of malpractices by builders in the forensic reports and these reports will be filed with the chargesheets,'' he added.