Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Crime Branch Files Negligence Case Against Virar Assistant Commissioner in Building Collapse
Imagine a big apartment building in Virar, India, that wasn't built correctly.
It was so unsafe that it fell down and sadly, 17 people lost their lives, and others got hurt.
The police are investigating why this happened.
They already charged the builder who made the bad building.
Now, they are also charging a city official, an Assistant Commissioner, because he knew the building was unsafe and sent a warning notice, but he didn't do anything else to make sure people moved out.
The police think if he had acted sooner, the people might still be alive.
They have collected a lot of evidence and filed a very long report about everything they found.
Crime Branch Unit 3 has filed a negligence case against Virar's Assistant Commissioner, Gilson Gonsalves.
The case is related to the collapse of the unauthorized Ramabai Apartment building on August 26, 2025, which killed 17 people.
Gonsalves is accused of failing to take action after issuing a warning notice for the dilapidated building.
A 4,000-page chargesheet has been filed in the investigation, with charges initially filed against the builder and others.
The investigation into other Municipal Corporation officials' potential involvement is ongoing.
- Who
- Crime Branch Unit 3, Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonsalves, Municipal Corporation, Developer Nital Sane
- What
- Filing of a negligence case against an Assistant Commissioner in relation to a deadly building collapse.
- When
- The collapse occurred on August 26, 2025; the case against the Assistant Commissioner was filed recently.
- Where
- Virar East, within the Vijaynagar area.
- Why
- Assistant Commissioner Gonsalves is accused of negligence for issuing a notice about the dilapidated building in 2025 but taking no further action to evacuate residents, which authorities believe could have saved lives.
Crime Branch Investigation
Municipal Official's Role
Responsibility for Building Safety
Crime Branch Investigation
The Crime Branch believes Assistant Commissioner Gonsalves' inaction after issuing a notice constitutes negligence that contributed to the fatalities.
Municipal Official's Role
The charges filed suggest a failure to follow through on safety protocols after identifying a dilapidated and unauthorized structure.
Investigation Scope
Crime Branch Investigation
The Crime Branch is actively investigating the roles of other Municipal Corporation officials.
Municipal Official's Role
The focus is currently on Gonsalves, but further cases may be registered against others if found guilty.
- Building Name
- Ramabai Apartment
- Location
- Vijaynagar area, Virar East
- Collapse Date
- August 26, 2025
- Fatalities
- 17
- Injured
- 9
- Structure Type
- Unauthorized, four-storey
- Chargesheet Length
- 4,000 pages