Satya Niketan building collapse: SC to hear case on September 10, Delhi Police denies jammer claims

The Supreme Court will hear issues related to the Satya Niketan building collapse on September 10 and may transfer the case from the Delhi High Court, if required, news agency PTI reported.

The development comes after the collapse of a decades-old building housing a paying guest accommodation for college students in the Delhi locality left at least seven people dead and several others injured. Police said rescue operations have concluded, with 12 people rescued.

SC may take over Satya Niketan case

The Supreme Court said it would take up matters related to the building collapse on September 10. The apex court may consider transferring the case from the Delhi High Court, which had earlier taken up an urgent PIL seeking accountability from government officials following the incident.

The Delhi High Court's intervention came after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi suspended five officials from its South Zone, including deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta, in connection with the collapse.

Meanwhile, the owner of the PG, 81-year-old Hariram Gupta, was arrested after being held in Rajasthan's Bhiwadi. He was later sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Patiala court. His wife Urmila Gupta, 75, was also sent to judicial custody, while their son Mahesh Gupta, 52, was remanded to two days' police custody.

Delhi Police rejects mobile jammer claims

Amid the ongoing scrutiny, the Delhi Police on Tuesday rejected claims that mobile phone jammers had been deployed at the rescue site.

In a post on X, the police described the claims as "completely false" and said mobile networks were fully operational. It said Delhi Police personnel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and fire department officials were coordinating through mobile phones without disruption.

The police also pointed out that media personnel and members of the public at the site were able to broadcast live without any interruption to mobile connectivity.

The clarification came after claims circulated on social media alleging that jammers had been installed at the site during the rescue operation.

MCD begins action against unsafe buildings

Following the collapse, several students staying in nearby paying guest accommodations were seen leaving with their belongings amid safety concerns.

The MCD also began issuing demolition notices to buildings considered dangerous around the collapsed structure.

A senior MCD official said a neighbouring building was in an extremely unsafe condition.

“We found that building number 13 is barely standing. It had been evacuated yesterday. The demolition drive will be carried out once the rescue operation is over,” the official told Hindustan Times.