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A special CBI court in Panchkula has denied a clean chit to D. Vasudevan, former CEO of Chintels India, in connection with the 2022 Paradiso building collapse that resulted in two fatalities. The court dismissed Vasudevan's plea to drop charges, stating his role extended beyond mere administration. Investigations revealed the use of substandard materials and faulty construction practices. IIT Delhi's audit confirmed the presence of high chloride levels in the concrete, leading to accelerated corrosion. The case continues as the CBI prepares for further proceedings.
A special CBI court in Panchkula has recently dismissed the application filed by D. Vasudevan, former CEO of Chintels India, seeking to drop charges against him in the ongoing investigation into the 2022 Paradiso building collapse. The incident, which occurred in February 2022, led to the tragic deaths of two residents and raised serious concerns about construction practices. Advertisement
In his application, Vasudevan's defense counsel argued that the project had been outsourced to various agencies hired by Chintels India, and therefore, Vasudevan should not be held accountable. However, the special CBI judge, Rajiv Goyal, rejected this argument, stating that Vasudevan's duties encompassed more than just administrative oversight. The judge emphasized that the contention that his responsibilities were limited to administration was not acceptable at this stage of the proceedings.
Vasudevan maintained that his role was focused on overall project management and did not involve day-to-day supervision of the construction activities at the Paradiso site. Despite this assertion, the court has scheduled the next hearing for August 27 to consider discharge applications from four other accused individuals involved in the case.
The Paradiso collapse has been under investigation since the incident occurred. Initially, the Gurugram police registered a case, which was later transferred to the CBI. The CBI filed two chargesheets: the first against Amit Austin, the promoter, and others; and the second, which included Vasudevan as one of the accused. The accused individuals contested the charges and filed applications seeking discharge from the case.
Further investigations revealed that the collapse was due to structural failures caused by the use of substandard materials. The Haryana government had commissioned IIT Delhi to conduct a structural audit of the Paradiso building. The audit findings indicated the presence of high chloride levels in the concrete, which accelerated the corrosion of the reinforcement, leading to the collapse of the building.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case has highlighted the critical importance of adhering to construction standards and the need for stringent oversight in the real estate sector to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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