Contractor arrested as labourer falls to death

MUMBAI: A labour contractor was arrested on Thursday on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder after a labourer fell to his death from the 19th floor of an under-construction building, Elegant Towers, in Mumbai Central on Wednesday.
Mohan Nair have been released on bail. Builder Sumeer Mehra of Shankala Group is also named in the FIR but he is not traceable, cops said.
On Wednesday, the deceased, Babu Shaikh (26), and another labourer, was on the 19th floor, a witness said. At 5.45pm, Shaikh fell into the lift shaft; he was decalred dead at J J Hospital.
Police said the responsibility of the worker’s safety rested with Nair. “He should have provided them with safety gear,” said V Sawade, senior inspector, adding the builder should have also ensured safety rules were followed. But caretaker at the site Navonet told TOI that all safety guidelines had been followed and Shaikh’s death was due to his carelessness.
Repeated attempts to contact Shankala group were futile.