Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Fourth accused gets bail

The owner of Ego Media, Bhavesh Bhinde, was granted bail last month and two others were released in July. Bhinde also filed a discharge application on November 22.

Seventeen people were killed in the May 13 hoarding collapse in the city's Ghatkopar hoarding collapse. (File photo)

In the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, the fourth and last accused still in jail, was granted bail earlier this month by a sessions court. Janhavi Marathe, a former director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd, which installed the massive hoarding, was granted bail on November 22.

The owner of the firm, Bhavesh Bhinde, was granted bail last month and two others were released in July. Bhinde also filed a discharge application on November 22.

On May 13, 17 persons died and 80 were injured as the hoarding collapsed. Bhinde in his discharge plea has claimed that he was made a scapegoat and was not in any manner associated with Ego Media when the hoarding was constructed. He claimed that he only became a director after Marathe resigned in December 2023, by when the hoarding had been installed.

He further said that a letter was issued by the Commissioner of Police, Railways on July 26, 2021, which said that as the hoarding was to be installed on land belonging to the Indian Railways, the civic body rules would not apply. Bhinde also said that since the incident took place on a day when the city was hit with unseasonal rains and unusual severe winds with a speed of 96 kmph, the hoarding collapsed because of it.

The police has opposed his plea stating that there is sufficient evidence for Bhinde to face trial.

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