File murder case against PWD minister Patil, cries Opposition

Demanding filing of a murder case against minister Chandrakant Patil for the Mahad bridge collapse, former deputy chief minister and NCP MLA Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said the government was responsible for the incident, for allowing traffic on it despite a warning of heavy rains by the India Meteorological Department.

Waging a scathing attack on the government in the state assembly, Pawar said that if Patil was saying the bridge had undergone inspection, then the officials who conducted the same should face stringent action. He added that while in Opposition BJP leaders had always demanded filing cases under section 302 against ministers and the same should be applied here so that an FIR for murder can be filed against Patil in the Mahad incident.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has demanded a judicial inquiry into the collapse. He echoed Pawar and said if the bridge had undergone inspection in May, stringent action should be taken against the officials concerned.

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the House should keep aside all subjects and take up only the Mahad incident for discussion. He added that the government should present the latest information in the House.