Dhankawadi building collapse: Absconding suspect Sawant held

The Sahakarnagar police on Tuesday arrested Lahu alias Dhirendra Bapu Sawant, who had been absconding till now, in connection with the collapse of an illegal building at Taljai Pathar in Dhankawadi, which killed 11 persons and injured 11 others on September 24.

Sawant and former Congress corporator Sanjay Nande were allegedly constructing the building. Nande has also been arrested.

The Sahakarnagar police laid a trap and arrested Sawant from Satara. Police said he stayed at different places while he on the run and came to Satara at a relative's place a few days ago. Sawant would be produced before the court on Wednesday. His interrogations would reveal more details about the illegal construction, said police.

Both Nande and Sawant have been booked under Sections 304 (culpable homicide), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life) of Indian Penal Code and Section 52 ( penalty for carrying out development which is not in conformity with the Development Plan) of the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning Act, 1966. Nande has allegedly showed that the illegal construction was on land owned by Sawant.

But during investigation, police recorded statements of Sawant's wife and labourers working at the construction site who said Sawant was actually working for Nande on a salary of a few thousands per month.

Police said they also probed details of Nande's bank statement as investigations revealed he had allegedly made payments to the contractor for construction of the illegal building. Police said Nande also operates a cable network and had employed Sawant to collect money from his customers.

Police found that Nande owned 450 sq feet land at survey no. 7/1/1/1/2 in Saiduttnagar area near Taljai Pathar in Dhankawadi.

But Nande illegally grabbed the adjacent land and started construction of a building illegally over 1,300 square feet. Investigation also revealed that construction material used for the building was of poor quality.

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