Saket building collapse: Inquiry finds MCD responsible, fabricated records to mislead probe

A Delhi government-ordered magisterial inquiry has held the MCD "primarily responsible" for the May 30 Saket building collapse that killed six people, alleging the civic body fabricated records to "mislead" the probe.

The report, submitted by the district magistrate (South) to the Delhi chief secretary, said the MCD failed to enforce building bylaws and concluded that the disaster was preventable.

The multi-storey commercial building, which housed coaching centres, cafes and offices near Saket metro station, collapsed, killing six people and injuring eight others.

The inquiry attributed the collapse primarily to unauthorised structural additions, including illegal third and fourth floors, along with inadequate regulatory enforcement. It gave a clean chit to other agencies, including the police and Delhi Jal Board.

The report said the MCD failed to act on a complaint about unauthorised construction received on March 9. It found no records of inspection, verification, booking of violations, demolition or preventive action for more than two months.

The illegal third and fourth floors were officially booked only on May 27, around three months after their construction, the report said.

It also alleged that MCD officials created "false and fabricated" documents after the collapse, including a show-cause notice dated May 27 and a work-stop notice dated May 29, to "mislead" the inquiry and create a false impression that action had been taken.

The report rejected the MCD's claim that excavation for an underground water tank triggered the collapse, saying the explanation lacked technical evidence and appeared to be based on assumptions.

The inquiry recommended fixing accountability for field-level and supervisory officers, along with mandatory structural safety audits of old, unauthorised and high-risk buildings.

It also suggested stricter inspections, multi-agency joint inspection teams, GIS-based mapping of vulnerable buildings, digital monitoring of unsafe structures, risk categorisation and immediate demolition or evacuation of buildings found to be unsafe.