Delhi police charge owners, labor contractor and hostel operators over building collapse that killed 7

The charges, filed in Patiala House Court, include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering life through a rash or negligent act, and negligence in building repair or construction, under sections 105, 125(a) and 290 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, PTI and ANI reported. Police examined 87 witnesses. The charges are allegations that have not been tested at trial.

The building near Delhi University's South Campus fell as crews were repairing it and filling in the basement. According to police, the accused include the registered owner, her husband, who acted as caretaker, and their son, who allegedly managed the building and collected cash payments. Two operators of a paying-guest hostel in the building are also charged.

The sixth accused is the labor contractor, a mason who carried out the job and, police allege, knocked down a wall, PTI reported. Police said earlier that the contractor had warned the owner and the hostel operators about the building's safety after a shop wall was knocked down. The chargesheet names him alongside the people police say he warned.

Magistrate Kautuk Bhardwaj took cognizance of the chargesheet and listed the case for scrutiny of documents on Nov. 19, ANI reported. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi suspended Rakesh Kumar, deputy commissioner for the South Zone, and four engineers after the collapse while disciplinary cases proceed.