Delhi building collapse: Satya Niketan PG owner Hariram Gupta, wife sent to judicial custody for 14 days

A Delhi court on Monday remanded Satya Niketan paying guest (PG) accommodation owner Hariram Gupta and wife Urmila Gupta to judicial custody for 14 days after they were arrested in connection with the PG building collapse which led to the death of 7 persons.

Their son Mahesh Gupta was sent to police custody for 2 days.

The order was passed by  Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhavya Kharail.

The building near Delhi University‘s South campus collapsed on September 6. It was being used as a PG accommodation for boys before it caved in during repair works.

Students and workers are among those dead.

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has also been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking ₹1 crore compensation for the kin of the victims of the collapse besides a structural audit of all PG accommodations/ hostels.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard the PIL on Monday and warned the government that it could not wash its hands off the tragedy.

It directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to conduct an inquiry at the highest level to find out whether the building which collapsed was constructed with valid permission.

The Court said that the civic authority must fix the responsibility of the officers for such a lapse and inform the Court about what action has been proposed against the erring officials.