Need stringent laws against accused in building collapse: Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Rizwan Merchant
After a four-storeyed building collapse in Mumbai's Ghatkopar West today claimed 12 lives, Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Rizwan Merchant, who lost his 3 kin in a building collapse in Mahim in 2013, said laws against the accused in such cases must be made more stringent.
In Short
- Rizwan's 3 family members died after their building Altaf Mansion in Mahim crashed in 2013.
- There was allegedly some tampering in construction of Aftab Mansion by building owners.
- Trial in the 2013 Mahim building collapse case is yet to begin.
The collapse of two wings of a four-storey Saidarshan building near Shreyas Cinema in Mumbai's Ghatkopar West today in which 12 people were killed has brought back haunting memories for many including actor Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Rizwan Merchant, who lost his three family members in a similar building crash in 2013.
Rizwan's wife, mother and youngest child Faraaz were killed after being trapped in the debris of their four-storeyed building - Altaf Mansion - in Mahim in 2013. Ten people died and several others were injured in the collapse. Rizwan and his other two kids - Faiz and Fiza - who were not at home at the time of the incident survived.
It was alleged that there was some tampering in construction of the Aftab Mansion by owners of the building, in connivance with a car dealer, who had a shop on the ground floor.
Rizwan had sworn to fight against the BMC officials, who should have looked into charges of tampering the construction of the building. He decided to fight against those who indulged in removing the columns that supported the building.
RIZWAN COMPLAINED TO BMC IN 2008, 2012
Rizwan had sent complaints to the BMC in 2008 and again in 2012, highlighting the danger to the building because of the alterations carried out by the car dealer for his showroom, after getting approval from the owners of the building.
But with his complaints falling on deaf ears, Rizwan finds himself helpless and frustrated with the system.
"After the incident in 2013, 5 BMC officials were suspended for not doing their duty properly. But they were soon reinstated. Not just that, a legal officer of BMC said that since the corporation had not sanctioned the prosecution of these officials, the case against them could not proceed". said Riwan, who had to run from one court to another pursuing his own case against the accused. "The Bombay High Court had granted the showroom owner bail. Although the sections under which people who are accused in such cases are non-bailable, they should be made more stringent to see to it that as long as the trial is not over, the accused are not given bail", Rizwan said.
A chargesheet was filed by Mumbai Police against the accused. However, trial in the case is yet to begin even after all these years. No one has been jailed and BMC officers have filed an application seeking that they be discharged from the case, which is yet to be decided by court.
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