Investigators probing the deadly building collapse in Delhi's Saidulajab area have found that two allegedly illegal additional floors being constructed on the structure were part of a contract worth approximately ₹1.8 crore. The revelation has intensified scrutiny of unauthorized construction practices in the national capital following the tragedy that claimed six lives and injured several others on May 30.
According to Delhi Police, the building owner, Karamveer, along with contractors Manish Khatri and Avinesh Gupta, has been arrested in connection with the collapse. Investigators believe the contractors were awarded the ₹1.8 crore contract around three months before the incident to construct two additional floors on the existing structure.
Preliminary findings suggest the building, constructed nearly eight years ago, was originally designed to support only four floors. However, one extra floor had already been completed and work on another was underway when the structure collapsed. Authorities suspect that the foundation and basement lacked the load-bearing capacity required to support the additional construction.
The investigation has also uncovered another possible factor behind the collapse. Police and engineering experts are examining whether excavation work carried out in the basement for the installation of a water tank weakened the building's structural integrity. Officials believe the combination of unauthorized vertical expansion and basement digging may have critically compromised the stability of the structure.
Investigators have further alleged that the construction of the additional floors was carried out without the necessary approvals or sanctioned building plans. Documents related to construction permissions, financial transactions, and technical reports are currently being examined to determine the extent of violations and identify others who may have been involved.
In a dramatic turn during the investigation, police revealed that contractor Manish Khatri allegedly attempted to evade arrest by using a basic “dumb phone” instead of a smartphone and moving between locations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He was eventually arrested along with Gupta near Vasant Kunj in Delhi following a tip-off.
The collapse has prompted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to launch a wider crackdown on unsafe structures. Authorities have reportedly identified nearly 100 buildings in Saidulajab and nearby areas and issued notices to occupants of structures considered potentially dangerous.
As the investigation continues, officials are focusing on whether negligence, illegal construction practices, and violations of safety norms directly contributed to one of Delhi's deadliest building collapses in recent years.
