Three months after building collapse in Burari, owner charged with negligence

New Delhi: Nearly three months after a four-storey building collapsed at Kaushik Enclave in Burari, resulting in the deaths of five people, including two sisters, Delhi Police filed a chargesheet accusing the building owner of disregarding safety regulations during construction. The chargesheet claimed that the owner prioritised completion over safety.
The 218-page chargesheet was submitted to Tis Hazari Court on April 17, with the owner, Yoginder Kumar Bhati, facing charges for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, negligent conduct, and endangering the safety of others, among others. Thirty-six individuals were listed as witnesses in the case.
According to sources, Bhati was constructing the house after hiring the labourers, and no contract was given to any other person. He operates as a builder who constructs properties for subsequent sale. The complainant, Lalta Prasad, a security guard, resided in the building with nine family members, including young children. Additionally, three workers were present in the building at the time of its collapse.
"The complainant and other witnesses observed cracks appearing in the building during its construction and repeatedly informed him about these issues. However, he allegedly ignored these warnings and simply had the cracks plastered over. Furthermore, the workers were not provided with any safety equipment," sources said.
The inquiry further revealed crucial details about the building site. The plot was situated at a low elevation, resulting in significant water accumulation. While this water was pumped out approximately fifteen days before the foundation was laid, the plot land remained wet. This wet condition purportedly caused the pillars to sink, consequently leading to the development of cracks in the walls and pillars.
"Bhati allegedly disregarded these concerns to protect his invested capital in the construction project. His primary objective appears to have been financial gain through the sale of the building," a police officer said.
The incident occurred on Jan 27. The deceased were identified as Sadhana (17), her younger sister Radhika (7), Anil Gupta (42), Mohammad Sarfaraz (22) and Mohammad Qadir (40). A probe revealed that false ceiling work was ongoing in the building and labourers were residing on the premises. After more than 36 hours of rescue operations, four members of a family, including two children, were miraculously rescued alive.