Morbi bridge collapse: Gujarat HC rejects bail plea of Oreva MD Jaysukh Patel

The Oreva Group maintained and operated the Morbi bridge that collapsed in October 2022, killing 135 people and injuring 55 others.

The bridge collapse at Morbi had led to the death of 135 people. (File Photo)

The Gujarat High Court Tuesday refused to grant bail to Oreva Group managing director Jaysukh Patel, who is the key accused in the Morbi bridge collapse that killed 135 people.

The court of Justice Divyesh Joshi pronounced the verdict and ordered that the bail plea is dismissed.

Jaysukh has been in jail since January and is facing charges of culpable homicide, along with other charges. The Oreva Group maintained and operated the bridge in Morbi that collapsed in October 2022, killing 135 people and injuring 55 others.

In all, 10 people stand accused of culpable homicide, of which six have been granted bail. Four others, including Patel, remain behind the bar.

While the prosecution had not opposed Jaysukh’s bail plea, the next of kin of the deceased had submitted that the act was not a case of simple negligence but rather “gross negligence” and that if Jaysukh is released on bail, there is a possibility of tampering with evidence or threatening witnesses.

A special investigation team (SIT) report had broadly pinned technical and administrative lapses in the management, repairs and maintenance of the bridge on the Oreva Group.

A detailed reasoned order of the dismissal of the plea remains to be made public.

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