New Delhi, May 31: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi President Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday alleged that repeated complaints regarding structural dangers at the building that collapsed near Saket Metro Station were ignored by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and police authorities, leading to the tragic loss of lives.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Bhardwaj claimed the collapse was not an unforeseen accident but the result of alleged administrative negligence despite multiple warnings from local residents and business owners.
The AAP leader alleged that the building in Saidulajab, near Saket Metro Station, was originally a three-storey structure but construction work for additional fourth and fifth floors was underway without proper structural assessment. He further claimed that excavation work for a basement and water tank was also being carried out, which allegedly weakened the building and caused it to tilt.
According to Bhardwaj, nearby residents and tenants had raised concerns that the structure had become unsafe and could collapse at any time. He alleged that written complaints were submitted to both Delhi Police and the MCD on March 21, warning authorities about the condition of the building.
Bhardwaj claimed that an official complaint was registered on the MCD portal on March 21 at 11:54 am and was assigned to Junior Engineer Aman Jain. According to him, the complaint was subsequently marked as resolved and closed on April 4 despite the alleged structural concerns remaining unaddressed.
The AAP leader said that when no action was taken by civic or police authorities, concerned citizens approached the Delhi High Court seeking intervention to stop what they described as unauthorised construction activity at the property located opposite Anupam Apartments on IGNOU Road in Saidulajab.
Quoting from the petition, Bhardwaj said the complainants had informed the court that the building had developed structural issues, tilted to one side and posed an imminent danger of collapse. He alleged that despite these warnings, the matter did not receive adequate attention.
Bhardwaj further alleged that during court proceedings, the counsel representing the MCD informed the Delhi High Court that no construction activity was taking place at the property and described the dispute as a private matter between a landlord and tenant. Based on those submissions, the petition was subsequently disposed of by the court, he claimed.
“The complainants approached the police, the MCD, senior officials and even the Delhi High Court. If all those efforts fail, what more can an ordinary citizen do?” Bhardwaj asked during the press conference.
He demanded action against senior civic officials and called for the suspension of the MCD Commissioner. He also sought disciplinary action against officials who allegedly handled the complaints and those responsible for monitoring construction activities in the area.
Bhardwaj alleged that complaints regarding unauthorised constructions are routinely ignored and accused sections of the civic administration of failing to act on violations despite receiving formal complaints. He claimed that the Saket collapse exposed deeper issues in the enforcement of building regulations in Delhi.
The AAP leader also questioned the accountability of the BJP-led administration in Delhi, pointing out that the area’s civic representatives, MCD leadership and the Delhi Government were all under BJP control. He demanded that the government demonstrate seriousness by taking strict action against officials found responsible for lapses.
The allegations come a day after a three-storey commercial building collapsed in Saidulajab near Saket Metro Station, killing four people and injuring several others.
