Poonam probe panel unchanged: Gokhale

MUMBAI, September 28: Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale announced that there will be no changes in the two-member inquiry committee set...

MUMBAI, September 28: Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale announced that there will be no changes in the two-member inquiry committee set up to look into the collapse of Poonam Chambers.

Speaking to Express Newsline, Gokhale said he was not aware that one of the architects in the committee, Sailesh Mahimtura, was involved in the construction of the RCC building nearly six years ago.

He added that even if Mahimtura was involved, the BMC felt that being an expert in his field, he is the right person to inquire into the collapse.The panel, with Satish Dhupelia as the second member, was set up by the corporation within hours of the collapse last week.

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On appointing independent persons or institutions to conduct the probe, Gokhale said because of the duo’s earlier work in BMC-related projects and the professionalism shown by them, they have been entrusted with the job.

He also said it was not necessary for the inquiry to be handed over to professionals from the Indian Institute of Technology and the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute.

Sailesh Mahimtura could not be contacted for comment.