The collapse of a 35-feet statue of the revered Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg has sparked widespread political unrest in Maharashtra. The incident has led to a flurry of accusations, with opposition leaders alleging a massive scam and demanding accountability from the state government. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have issued public apologies.

A deeper investigation by India Today TV has brought to light several critical factors surrounding the statue’s construction, particularly concerning the height and materials used.

Several reports earlier said that permission was initially granted for a 6-feet statue made of clay. However, the final structure stood at 35 feet and was constructed using stainless steel and other materials, raising concerns about the approval process and the potential for regulatory oversights.

Information accessed by India Today TV reveals that the approval process for such significant statues is managed by the Maharashtra Directorate of Art, under the leadership of Professor Rajiv Mishra. When creating a statue of a historical figure as important as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the directorate’s role is primarily focused on ensuring accurate representation. This includes approving the statue’s facial features, body proportions, and overall artistic resemblance to the historical figure.

In this case, the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai issued the tender for the statue to be created by artist Jaydeep Apte, in honour of Indian Navy Day. Apte initially presented a 6-foot clay model of the statue to the Maharashtra Directorate of Art, which approved it based on its accurate resemblance to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

It’s crucial to note that the Directorate’s authority does not extend to decisions about the statue’s height or the materials used in its construction.

The responsibility for determining the statue’s final height and construction materials rested with the Indian Navy, which commissioned the statue.

As per sources, the Indian Navy could select any height and material, provided they obtained a stability certificate from a qualified structural consultant. In this instance, Chetan Patil, who has since been arrested, was the structural consultant responsible for issuing the stability certificate.

Another key element of the statue’s construction involved the approval of the statue’s base, which had to be obtained from the Public Works Department (PWD). Chetan Patil reportedly secured this approval as part of his consulting responsibilities. However, the overall construction and monitoring of the project were under the purview of the Indian Navy. Despite repeated inquiries, the Indian Navy has refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

After the statue’s inauguration, the responsibility for its repair and maintenance reportedly shifted to state government agencies. The Indian Navy maintains that once the statue was handed over, its upkeep was no longer within their remit.

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