Saidulajab collapse: Realtors given ‘verbal deal’ for extra floors

New Delhi: The investigation into the collapse of a multistorey building in south Delhi’s Saidulajab has found that the builder and contractor were awarded only a verbal contract to construct two additional floors.

Police said the disclosure was made by arrested accused Manish Khatri and Avinash Gupta. “They were given the task of constructing two large halls for around Rs 1.1 crore and claimed to have begun the work in Jan,” a source said.

Investigators found no approved building plan or structural design for the additional floors. No architect was engaged, and the accused were allegedly instructed to connect the new pillars to the existing structure. The building owner, Karamveer, was arrested earlier.

“Khatri is a distant relative of the owner. At the time of the incident, both accused were at home. After being informed about the collapse, they fled,” the source added. Police said Khatri later switched to a basic phone and obtained a new SIM card to evade detection.

The duo travelled to Himachal Pradesh and stayed in Manali for several days before being tracked and arrested while returning to Delhi.

They were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class Nirmala Singh, who remanded them to three days’ police custody.

The building collapsed on May 30, killing six people. A case has been registered under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to buildings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.