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In a significant development, Gujarat police apprehended Gopal Shah, a partner of the private firm responsible for the Vadodara lakefront where a tragic boat capsizing incident occurred. The incident claimed the lives of 12 school students and two teachers. Gopal Shah was arrested in Titlagarh, Balangir district of Odisha.
Gujarat Police Arrests Vadodara Boat Tragedy Accused. Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, DCP Crime, stated, “Our team has caught Gopal Shah from Odisha today, and the process to bring him to Vadodara is underway. Once back, formal charges will be pressed against him. This will mark the eighth arrest in the case.”
Vadodara Boat Tragedy Police Arrests Accused in Odisha. The Vadodara crime branch, under the supervision of a special investigation team (SIT), is managing the case. Lookout notices were issued for 10 out of the 19 individuals named in the FIR, and Gopal Shah was among them. Shah is a partner in Kotia Projects, the firm responsible for operating and maintaining Motnath Lake.
Vadodara Boat Tragedy, Accused Arrested. The tragic incident occurred on January 18 when an overloaded boat capsized in Motnath Lake, leading to the drowning of 12 students and two teachers. A case has been registered under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code against 19 individuals.
The FIR highlighted lapses by the contractor, Kotia Projects, including neglect of boat maintenance and insufficient provision of life-saving equipment. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) had contracted Kotia Projects to operate the Harni Lake Zone in 2017.
Seven individuals, including four partners of Kotia Projects, the firm’s manager, and boat operators, have been arrested in connection with the case. Binit Kotia, owner of Kotia Project, was granted eight days of police custody by a Vadodara court in a hearing on Wednesday.
