Hyderabad: Former gudamba seller-turned-builder Satyanarayana Singh and Bengaluru-based Sumadhura Constructions were booked by Cyberabad police for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 Part 2) and rash and negligent act leading to death (304A). They are being held responsible for the collapse of the building in Nanakramguda on Thursday night.
The police action is based on the complaint by T. Beerender, 58, a resident of Lodha Basti. A Gachibowli police officer said, “It is alleged in the complaint that due to low quality construction by Satyanarayana Singh alias Sattu Singh, and due to the digging of a pit for two cellars in the neighbouring plot by Sumadhura Constructions, the building collapsed.”
Police said Satyana-rayana Singh has not been found and his son has told the cops that he is in Kerala.
Sumadhura Constructions is owned by one G. Madhusudhan, who has several ventures in Bengaluru.
Serilingampally exc-ise inspector Chandra Kumar said, “Singh was involved in gudamaba cases in 2004 and 2005. He stopped around 2008 and we were told that he was acquitted. There are around 150 families of the community living in Nanakaramguda who have links to Dhoolpet. None of them is in the gudamba business now and have stopped mauing hooch.”
He built illegal building nearby
Diagonally opposite the building that collapsed on Thursday night at Nanakram-guda, its owner and builder, Satyanar-ayana Singh, had built another five-floor residential building illegally. Called Talja it too has gone unchecked by the GHMC.
The illegal building built by Satyanarayana Singh near the crashed building. (Photo: DC)
The ground-plus-five floor building was constructed on 220 square yards, without any set back. Flats have been sold and people are living in it.
Minister K.T. Rama Rao said, “Satyana-rayana Singh constructed an illegal five-floor structure opposite the collapsed one. There are no set backs, and the apartment exceeds the compound wall. The GHMC is wrong in failing to check an unauthorised construction. These days anyone without qualification is a builder. The neighbouring building will be examined for structural stability and GHMC will demolish it if it is found to be unfit.”
The minister admitted that there were shortcomings in the official machinery that allowed builders to break rules.
The absconding builder’s expensive car was found parked at the Talja building. Local people said Satyanarayana Singh owns agricultural land in Nanakramguda.
Culpable negligence
Section 304 (II) is attracted when there is knowledge that death may be caused by act, whereas 304 (A) is only death by negligence. In 304 (II), there could be punishment of 10 years or fine. Under 304 A the punishment is two years.
