Delhi Police invoked Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code against defaulting contractors following the Saket building collapse that killed six people. The FIR charges culpable homicide not amounting to murder, a provision applied when unlawful acts cause death without premeditated murder intent.
Legal experts analyzing the filing note that Section 304 carries substantial penalties when structural negligence contributes to fatalities. Investigators are examining illegal extensions, certification irregularities, and oversight failures linked to the developer.
The statutory choice signals prosecution intent to pursue accountability beyond municipal code violations. Defense counsel may argue compliance documentation and subcontractor responsibility divisions. Magistrate courts will determine bail and trial scheduling as evidence collection continues.
Municipal building departments face parallel administrative inquiries into certificate issuance practices, with prosecutors examining whether approved structural plans matched executed construction at the Saket site.
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Sources:
https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/saket-collapse-fir-section-304-ipc-invoked-contractors-2026-05-31