Mumbai open manhole death: Rahul Narwekar seeks culpable homicide charges for civic negligence

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. FILE PIC

Seeking stricter accountability for fatal civic negligence, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday called for culpable homicide charges against those responsible for deaths caused by open manholes, instead of merely ordering inquiries or departmental action against erring BMC officials or other agencies.

Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ameet Satam raised in the Assembly the death of a man who allegedly fell into an open manhole in Sakinaka. Demanding strict accountability, Satam said, "We do not want just an inquiry. We want concrete action against the officials responsible for the negligence."

Stringent punishment

Admitting that it was a serious issue, Narwekar stated that this was not the first time that such a mishap had happened. Recalling an incident from a few years back where a renowned Mumbai-based doctor lost his life by falling into a manhole, the speaker observed that suspending officials or conducting inquiries was not enough and that those responsible for such incidents should face stringent punishment. "I believe a mere inquiry and action are not enough. It's time that those responsible for such negligence should be booked for culpable homicide," Narwekar added.

Government told to make statement

The Speaker even asked the state government to take detailed information about the entire mishap and accordingly make a statement on the floor of the House.