Shivaji Statue Collapse: Absconding Contractor-Sculptor Jaydeep Apte Arrested in Kalyan

Jaydeep Apte, on the run after the Rajkot fort statue collapse, apprehended in Thane district.

Maharashtra Police have arrested sculptor and contractor Jaydeep Apte, responsible for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue that collapsed at Rajkot fort last month. Apte, who had been evading authorities for over 10 days, was taken into custody in Kalyan, Thane district, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old sculptor had been missing since the 35-foot-tall statue, which was inaugurated less than nine months ago, fell on August 26. Apte is currently being held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), according to sources.

Following the incident, Malvan police registered a case against Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, accusing them of negligence. Patil, arrested from Kolhapur last week, was also under investigation for his role in the statue’s structural integrity.

The collapse of the statue, a key symbol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, sparked political tensions ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections. Opposition parties criticized the Eknath Shinde-led government for its handling of the situation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare remarked that the government should not boast about Apte’s arrest, saying it was their responsibility to apprehend him sooner.

Meanwhile, a technical committee of five members visited the Malvan fort for an on-site inspection. The materials used in the statue’s construction are undergoing forensic analysis to determine the cause of the collapse.