New developments have emerged in the 2024 Garden Reach building collapse case in Kolkata, which left 13 people dead and several injured. Police investigations have revealed that the key accused in the case has fled India and is currently believed to be residing in the United Arab Emirates.

According to senior police officials, Mohammad Shahnawaz, the landowner of the collapsed building, escaped the country after the incident and is now hiding in Abu Dhabi under an assumed identity. The building, which was illegally constructed on his land, collapsed on March 17, 2024, crashing into a nearby settlement and triggering a major tragedy.

Sources at Kolkata Police Headquarters (Lalbazar) confirmed that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been officially informed about Shahnawaz’s whereabouts. Law enforcement agencies have initiated procedures to bring him back to India, and a Yellow Corner Notice has already been issued against him through Interpol to track his movements internationally.

Following the collapse, a criminal case was registered against Shahnawaz and other accused individuals. Despite multiple raids and search operations across Kolkata and surrounding areas, police were unable to apprehend him, as he remained absconding for several months.

Investigators later discovered that Shahnawaz initially went into hiding at various locations within the city and its suburbs before managing to leave the country. Police believe that his existing business ties and contacts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai helped him establish himself there with relative ease. However, he is reportedly living under a false name to evade detection.

The incident also drew judicial scrutiny, with the Calcutta High Court seeking an explanation from the state government regarding its role and oversight failures. Separately, the KMC conducted its own internal probe into the illegal construction.

Police filed a comprehensive 730-page charge sheet 88 days after the collapse, invoking serious charges such as murder, attempt to murder, and criminal conspiracy. The document names Shahnawaz, the building promoter, and six others as the principal accused in the case.