Mumbai building collapse: No bail for contractor; court says he knew structure was unsafe

Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) A Mumbai court on Friday refused bail to a contractor arrested for a 'chawl' (traditional row tenement) collapse in Mankhurd area earlier this month that killed six, ruling that prima facie there is material to show he was aware that the illegal structure was "unsafe". Additional Sessions Judge R M Jadhav, citing the police report, noted that accused Abdul Idrisi had knowledge that he was constructing illegally without permission from the competent authority. "Further, the material on record goes to show that the structure in question was unsafe for residing as well as to the persons residing in the vicinity," the court said. Police papers highlighted a previous warning sign where a rickshaw driver was knocked unconscious by a tile falling from the front side of the building, an incident the accused had been informed about, the order said. The incident took place on July 5 when a four-storey structure fell onto an adjoining hut. The five occupants of the hut and the complainant's granddaughter lost their lives in the incident. As per police, Idrisi and his father acted as contractors to build the four-storey structure for a co-accused. The structure was allegedly constructed illegally over the last four years on the premises of a former hut without seeking permission from the competent authority, the police said. After perusal of documents, the court held that "prima facie there is material to believe the accused having knowledge that the illegal structure raised by him is dangerous to human safety and life allowed to continue the same". Considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the court said it won't be desirable in the interest of the justice to grant bail to the accused. PTI AVI BNM