Cutting across party lines, several political leaders on Wednesday endorsed the arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap for not taking measures to save a building that he owned in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai from collapsing.
A majority of them said that people responsible for the mishap should be held accountable.
A number of allegations pointed towards Sunil Shitap, a local strongman linked to the Shiv Sena and accused him of doing extensive repairing in the maternity home on the ground floor of the building without taking appropriate precautions
Rajya Sabha member Rajni Patil told ANI that a person and his political affiliations shouldn't intervene with any arrest or investigation as a lot of lives are at stake.
Hussain Dalwai, a Rajya Sabha member representing Maharashtra, said, "Only his arrest won't work. Everyone, including people who gave him permission and the ones who were negligent should be held as well."
He added that there are a number of encroachment cases in Mumbai and that the collectors and commissioners aren't doing their jobs properly.
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On Tuesday, 17 people died after the building collapsed. Over thirty people were feared trapped under the rubble of the four-storeyed residential building.
Eight fire engines were rushed to the spot. A rescue van along with 108 Ambulance was also rushed to the spot.