The Maharashtra government has formed a technical committee consisting of engineers, IIT experts, and Navy officials to investigate the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue at Malvan in coastal Konkan, an official statement said on Wednesday (August 28).

In addition to the investigation panel, the government has established a committee tasked with constructing a “grand statue befitting the stature” of the revered warrior king. This decision was made by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who convened a meeting with senior ministers, bureaucrats, and Navy officials at his official residence, Varsha, in South Mumbai on Wednesday night, according to a release from the Chief Minister’s office, reports news agency, PTI.

FIR filed against contractor

An FIR has been lodged against the contractor responsible for the construction of the 35-foot statue, which collapsed just eight months after being unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023. The complaint was filed by the Public Works Department (PWD), which cited poor construction quality, noting that the nuts and bolts used in the statue were found to be rusted.

Chetan Patil, a structural engineer named in the FIR, has denied being the structural consultant for the statue itself. Speaking to the Marathi news channel, Patil clarified that he was only responsible for designing the platform on which the statue was erected and had submitted his design to the Indian Navy through the PWD. He stated that a Thane-based company handled the statue-related work.

Political controversy and Opposition demands

The collapse of the statue has triggered a significant political controversy, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition criticising the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government and demanding Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s resignation. The NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, announced plans for ‘silent’ protests across Maharashtra on Thursday to express their outrage and demand the installation of a stronger and larger statue at the same site.

Earlier, Ajit Pawar apologised to the people of Maharashtra for the statue’s collapse and promised action against those responsible, whether officials or contractors. NCP members will gather at Shivaji Maharaj statues in various talukas and districts to observe a silent protest for one hour, starting at 11 AM on Thursday. They will also submit a list of demands to tehsildars or district collectors, emphasising the need for strict punishment for those responsible and calling for the installation of a more robust statue of Shivaji Maharaj at the fort.

The NCP has emphasised the importance of Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, particularly his contributions to building India’s navy, and insisted on installing a new, stronger statue at the same location. The collapse of the statue, months after its inauguration, has led to widespread public outrage and calls for accountability from the government and those involved in the construction.