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.”