Pune building collapse: Sawant remanded in custody

Judicial Magistrate (First Class) K P Jain-Desarda on Wednesday remanded Lahu alias Dhirendra Bapu Sawant (37),in police custody till October 23 in connection with building collapse in Sahakarnagar which killed 11 persons and injured 11 others on September 24.

Sawant was absconding for three weeks before he was arrested by the police on Tuesday. Former Congress corporator Sanjay Nande was also arrested by the police,who is currently lodged in Yerawada Central Jail. “Nande and Sawant knew each other for the last 15 years. They had acquired land and constructed the building which collapsed. Both are equally responsible for it. We have sent letters to the concerned government departments to know the owner of the land,” said senior police inspector Kamlakar Takawale,who is investigating the case,before the court. Defence lawyers Sudhir Mule and Gangaram Aiwale representing Sawant opposed the police custody demand saying nothing has to be recovered from Sawant.