NEW DELHI: On May 30, the Delhi Police arrested a builder and a contractor over the collapse of a multi-storey building in Saidulajab, which resulted in six fatalities and eight injuries, officials announced on Tuesday.
The suspects, identified as Avinash Gupta and Manish Khatri, were allegedly linked to the building’s construction and were taken into custody in various locations around the city. Investigators are currently questioning them regarding the construction process, permissions obtained, and their roles in the unauthorized addition of extra floors.
Previously, the police had apprehended Karamveer, the building’s owner. During questioning, he indicated that construction on the additional floors had commenced roughly three months before the incident.
Investigators discovered that the building lacked an approved construction plan and other essential documents required for such projects. Authorities noted that the structure was originally designed for four floors, yet two additional levels had been constructed without authorization.
Sources revealed that Karamveer earned approximately ₹2.5 lakh per floor in rental income and sought to increase his profits by building two more stories. Authorities suspect this expansion compromised the building’s foundation, leading to the collapse.
Additionally, police indicated that Karamveer was not present on-site during the incident and allegedly fled after being alerted via phone. He was later apprehended by law enforcement.
A rescuer involved in the recovery efforts stated that the investigation will aim to determine the impact of the building’s design, quality of construction, and unauthorized modifications on the incident.
