The handling of the deaths of three migrant construction workers at the Aatman Grandeur project in Ahmedabad’s Sola area has come under criticism after the Sola High Court Police registered an Accidental Death (AD) case instead of an FIR for alleged negligence.
The incident took place on June 25 at the under-construction residential project opposite Maruti Multispeciality Hospital. The three workers, all from Rajasthan, died after allegedly suffering an electric shock while working in the building’s basement.
The deceased have been identified as Shiva Manilal Bamaniya (21) of Banswara district, Vikesh Maniya Pargi of Banswara district and Rahul Laxman Bamaniya of Dungarpur district.
According to preliminary information, the labourers were working on an iron scaffolding structure when a live, allegedly uninsulated electrical wire came into contact with the metal framework, causing it to become electrically charged. The workers were rushed to a nearby hospital but were declared dead on arrival.
The police have so far registered an Accidental Death case and launched an inquiry. However, the decision has raised questions among labour rights activists and local residents, who argue that fatal workplace accidents involving suspected safety lapses generally warrant registration of an FIR under relevant provisions dealing with negligence.
Critics have also questioned whether all mandatory workplace safety measures, including electrical safeguards and labour protection norms, were in place at the construction site. Some have alleged that the developers are receiving favourable treatment because of their influence, although these allegations have not been independently verified.
The incident has drawn comparisons with the 2022 Adore Aspire construction accident near Panjrapol, where police registered criminal charges, arrested the builder and civic authorities later cancelled the project’s building permissions over alleged safety violations.
Police officials have maintained that the investigation is underway and said any decision to invoke additional legal provisions will be taken after examining the post-mortem reports, forensic evidence and other findings. Meanwhile, the case has intensified demands for a transparent probe into the circumstances that led to the deaths and whether accountability will be fixed for any negligence found during the investigation.