Amid political  backlash over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg, Maharashtra Co-Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, August 28, urged political leaders to refrain from politicising the incident.

“I think no one should do politics on this incident. This incident is unfortunate for all of us, it is a very sad incident, it should be properly investigated and action should be taken against the culprits and a grand statue should be installed again at that place,” he said.

The 35-feet statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district last December, collapsed on Monday (August 26), sparking significant controversy and political backlash.

The statue of the Maratha warrior king was placed at the Rajkot Fort in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg on the occasion of Navy Day (December 4) last year. It collapsed around 1 pm on Monday.

An FIR has been filed against sculptor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, with Apte reported missing since the incident.

They have been booked under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to attempt to commit culpable homicide, commit an act endangering the life or personal safety of others, attempt to murder as well as cheating. Besides this, the case was also registered under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (mischief causing damage to public property).

Fadnavis, while defending the state’s handling of the incident, said, “The Navy took this matter seriously and formed an investigation committee, the committee has visited there and the Navy will investigate the matter and take appropriate action… The Opposition should not do such cheap politics. Sharad Pawar is a senior leader, he also knows that this statue has been installed by the Navy, it has not been installed by the state government, corruption is not acceptable anywhere, we oppose corruption, if Pawar Sahab gives such statements then I am surprised, does Pawar Sahab support corruption by giving such statements?…”

This comes after NCP (SP) Lok Sabha Member Supriya Sule demanded Fadnavis’s resignation, accusing him of failing to manage the situation.

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Sule criticised the state government’s response, asserting that it was focusing on self-preservation and shifting blame to the Indian Navy. “People are agitated because of this incident and there has been no official apology from the state government so far,” Sule stated.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar also strongly criticised the Eknath Shinde-led government, alleging corruption and mismanagement.

Thackeray condemned the government’s explanation that gusty winds caused the collapse as “the height of shamelessness.” He announced that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will stage a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India on September 1, with prominent leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress joining the demonstration.

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Co-Deputy CM Ajit Pawar also issued an apology to the people of Maharashtra, stating, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our deity and for its statue to fall in such a way within a year is a shock for all of us.” The state government has announced plans to install a larger statue at the same location, while the Indian Navy continues its investigation into the collapse.