DHARWAD: Former chief minister and MLA Jagadish Shettar has demanded a judicial inquiry into the building collapse that has claimed several lives in Dharwad.Shettar along with MP Pralhad Joshi and MLAs Arvind Bellad and Amrut Desai visited the crash site near Kumareshwar Nagar here on Thursday and told TOI that only a judicial inquiry by a retired or sitting high court judge could bring out the exact reason for the disaster and the people responsible for it.He said the order by regional commissioner Tushar Girinath for a magisterial inquiry by the additional deputy commissioner of Dharwad was an eye wash and an attempt to shield guilty persons, who are influential.“As per available information, over 12 persons are dead and many are still trapped under the debris. Considering the magnitude of the disaster, the government should immediately order a judicial probe by a sitting or retired high court judge,” he urged.“Efficient officials and engineers should be appointed to assist the judge conducting the probe and guilty should be punished, their power and political influence notwithstanding,” Shettar said.The building is owned by a firm which has four partners including Gangappa Shintre, the father in-law of former minister Vinay Kulkarni.Shettar charged that 24 hours had elapsed since an FIR was filed, but no arrests had been made. This led to suspicion that attempts are being made to protect the guilty, he charged. Shettar added that the state government has cited the model code of conduct to deny compensation to the family members of the victims. HDMC has announced Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the deceased on humanitarian grounds.“The model code of conduct does not apply for announcing compensation to those affected in a disaster. The government should immediately release Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased and up to Rs 5 lakh to injured persons,” Shettar said.He charged that HDMC officials were issuing certificates validating the violation of construction bylaws after receiving heavy gratification. This corrupt practice has resulted in many illegal buildings coming up in the twin cities, he added.

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