Police have registered a case against two senior officials of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. — the firm contracted to run the waste-to-energy project at Pune's Moshi garbage depot — after a massive garbage mound collapsed onto an adjacent building on 8 July, killing nine people and injuring 12 others. The case was lodged at MIDC Bhosari Police Station on 14 July, following a formal complaint by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Who Has Been Charged

The FIR names Project Head Ashokkumar Siyaram Sharan Gupta (59) and Safety Officer Vijay Ramrao Sapkal (38). Both are accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 104, 125(a), 125(b), and 3(5), which pertain to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and acts endangering life and personal safety.

What the Contract Required

The Pune Municipal Corporation had awarded Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. the contract for processing the city's municipal solid waste and managing day-to-day operations at the Moshi site. Under the terms of that contract, the company was allegedly obligated to implement all necessary safety measures to maintain the structural stability of the Sanitary Landfill (SLF) and prevent hazards arising from waste accumulation.

This included protecting the landfill from monsoon-related risks — a particularly critical requirement given that the collapse occurred during the active monsoon season. Officials allege that both accused were fully aware that the absence of adequate precautions could result in loss of life and property damage, yet failed to act.

How the Collapse Unfolded

At approximately 1:30 pm on 8 July, a section of the garbage mound at the Moshi depot gave way, crashing onto an adjacent building and spilling onto a nearby road. The sudden collapse trapped residents, killing nine and leaving 12 with injuries, according to officials. The scale of the incident prompted the municipal corporation to file a formal complaint, triggering the police case.

Investigation Under Way

Authorities at MIDC Bhosari Police Station have confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to establish whether the failure to implement mandatory safety measures directly contributed to the deadly collapse. Officials are examining whether the accused had received prior warnings about the structural vulnerability of the mound and whether any internal safety audits were conducted before the monsoon season.

This incident comes amid growing scrutiny of waste management infrastructure across Indian cities, where rapid urbanisation has outpaced landfill safety protocols. The Moshi collapse is not an isolated case — similar landfill failures have been recorded in Mumbai and Bengaluru in recent years, raising systemic questions about contractor accountability and municipal oversight.