Exposed iron rods can net culpable homicide rap

Leaving dangerously exposed vertical iron bars embedded in RCC columns at construction sites is an overt act and prima facie makes out a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the Bombay High Court noted and refused to quash a case against two subcontractors of a Goregaon site where a worker died after falling on exposed iron bars in an RCC column.

- URVI MAHAJANI

The sub-contractors Pinkesh Patel and Hiren Rangani prima facie had knowledge that men in cabins of cranes suspended in mid air over these bars were carrying out construction work and, therefore, leaving dangerously exposed vertical iron bars was an invitation for disaster, observed a division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Milind Sathaye.

“It is this material which prima facie makes out a case for proceeding further against the petitioners in the present criminal trial,” the court said.