The hoarding at Ghatkopar has collapsed on May 13 (left), Bhavesh Bhinde | File Pic
Mumbai: The State government has challenged before the Bombay High Court, the bail granted to Bhavesh Bhinde, the main accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, in which 17 persons died.
Amid rains and strong winds, the giant billboard collapsed on May 13, killing 17 people and injuring more than 70. Bhinde was arrested four days later from Udaipur. He was charged under several sections of the IPC, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing grievous hurt.
Bhinde, the owner of Ego Media Pvt. Ltd. which erected the hoarding, was granted bail by the sessions court on October 19.
According to a police officer, the Crime Branch has challenged his bail citing substantial evidence against him. The plea, filed on November 8, cites the deaths of 17 people as a critical ground for opposing Bhinde’s bail and discharge application. The police have also challenged the bail granted to civil contractor Sagar Kumbhar.
Bhinde’s bail plea before the sessions court claimed that he became a director of the company, Ego Media Pvt Ltd, from December 21, 2023, by which time the said hoarding was already erected and advertisements were being displayed thereon. “As a result, no fault, liability can be ascribed to him as he merely took over the management of the company from the date mentioned,” his plea had claimed.
Further, Bhinde has claimed that the hoarding collapsed not due to improper, faulty construction, but because of “force majeure” (act of god). Besides, it was argued that BMC had no jurisdiction over the land and the hoarding was constructed after obtaining permission from the Commissioner of Police (Railways).
Besides, he cited an opinion taken from Justice (retd) AV Nirgude, who opined that the land bearing survey would be classified as a land belonging to the railways, and that the BMC has no power to either regulate any advertisements or charge license fee on it.
The prosecution had opposed the plea contending that there was enough evidence to show Bhinde was actively involved in the case. Besides, previous director Jhanvi Marathe had claimed that all the processing was done by Bhinde. Marathe was granted bail on December 3.
