New Delhi: The owner of the building in Satya Niketan that collapsed and claimed the lives of seven people has been apprehended from Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi area, Delhi Police said on Monday. Hariram Gupta was traced after a major search operation involving 10 police teams across several states.
Owner traced after going into hiding
A police officer confirmed that Gupta was apprehended in Bhiwadi and said further examination was underway in connection with the case.
According to a police source, Gupta was in Gurugram when the building collapsed on Sunday afternoon. He reportedly received a call from an acquaintance informing him about the incident.
Soon after learning about the collapse, Gupta allegedly switched off his mobile phone and went into hiding. He subsequently left the city, prompting police to launch an extensive operation to trace him.
After obtaining his details, police teams attempted to contact him, but he remained unreachable. The Delhi Police then issued a lookout circular (LOC) to trace his whereabouts and prevent him from leaving the country.
Ten police teams launched search
The Delhi Police formed 10 teams to locate Gupta. Personnel from the southwest district, Special Staff and other units were involved in the search operation.
The teams were sent to Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and adjoining districts of Haryana in an effort to track down the building owner.
Police also circulated Gupta’s details among adjoining states and airports as part of efforts to prevent him from leaving the country.
The search was coordinated and supervised by officers of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, according to the police.
The operation eventually led investigators to Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, where Gupta was apprehended on Monday.
Investigation focuses on building collapse
The police action forms part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the decades-old building in Satya Niketan.
The structure housed a boys’ paying guest accommodation and collapsed at around 1.30 pm on Sunday while repair work was reportedly underway.
The collapse trapped several people beneath the debris. Seven people have died so far, while several others were rescued during the search and rescue operation.
Rescue operations continued into Monday, with agencies working through the debris and checking whether anyone else could still be trapped inside.
The condition of the building before the incident and the nature of the repair work being carried out are among the aspects being examined by investigators.
Case registered against owner and others
Police had earlier registered a case against Gupta and others at the South Campus police station.
The case includes charges relating to culpable homicide, negligence in the upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others.
Investigators are examining whether adequate safety measures were followed during the repair work and whether the condition of the building had posed a danger before it collapsed.
The investigation is also expected to establish the sequence of events leading up to the collapse and determine the responsibilities of those involved.
Rescue and probe continue
The apprehension of Gupta comes as rescue and investigation teams continue their work at the collapse site.
While rescue agencies have been checking the debris for any possible survivors, police are gathering evidence and examining the circumstances surrounding the construction, maintenance and repair of the building.
Officials are also expected to establish whether there were any warnings or indications about the structural condition of the building before the collapse.
With seven deaths already reported, the incident has triggered a detailed probe into structural safety and the manner in which repair work was being undertaken at the premises.
Police said further examination of Gupta and other aspects of the case are underway. The findings of the investigation will help determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collapse and the responsibility of those involved.