Surat building collapse: Caretaker sent to police remand, hunt for 2 owners on

Seven persons were killed and one injured when the building collapsed in Sachin area around 2.45 pm on Saturday.

A dilapidated building collapsed in Surat on Saturday, killing seven. (Express photo)

Ashwin Vekariya, the 47-year-old caretaker who “collected rent from the occupants” of the six-storey residential building in Surat that collapsed on Saturday, killing seven persons, was sent to two-day police remand by a court on Monday evening.

The Sachin GIDC police, meanwhile, is set to issue a red corner notice against one of the owners of the collapsed Kailashraj Residency — Raj Kakadiya, who is in the US at present. Earlier, a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered against Raj and his mother Ramila, who is also one of the owners of the building.

Seven persons were killed and one injured when the building collapsed in Sachin area around 2.45 pm on Saturday.

The dilapidated building was occupied by labourers who shared rented rooms, with many also staying with their families.

Based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector V V Patel of Sachin GIDC police, an FIR was registered against Ashwin, Raj and Ramila under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 54 (abettor present when act or offence is committed) on Sunday. Ashwin was arrested the same day, while a hunt to arrest Raj and Ramila is underway.

Ashwin was on Monday produced before the Surat district court, which sent him to two-day police custody — until 4 pm on July 10.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sachin GIDC police Inspector J R Chaudhary said: “Ashwin used to collect rent from the tenants and then hand it over to Ramila. We have submitted a seven-point remand application before the court, stating that after the building collapsed, Ashwin had asked Ramila to hide important building registry documents and then escape.”

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“We informed the court that we wanted to analyse the building documents, and then arrest Ramila. Also, we are working on issuing a red corner notice against Raj,” he added.

“The tenants of Kailashraj Residency had complained to Ashwin many times about cracks in the building’s beams, columns and walls, stating that repairs are needed, but nothing was done. The SMC (Surat Municipal Corporation) had also issued multiple notices to the building owners, citing its poor condition,” said Chaudhary.

Kamal Saiyed

Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs. Expertise Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs. Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including: Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives. Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress. Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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