The police in Sindhudurg district have pressed more than seven teams to track down sculptor and contractor Jaydeep Apte, booked over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at Rajkot fort, an official said on Wednesday. Police have been searching for 24-year-old Apte since the day of the collapse on August 26, but he has remained untraceable, the official said.

The Sindhudurg police have also issued a look-out circular (LOC) against Apte to prevent him from leaving the country through sea ports, airports and all other exit points, he said. Teams of Sindhudurg police are searching for him at places, including Mumbai, Thane, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur. Some of the teams are using technical help to apprehend the accused, the official said.