Mumbai court grants bail to prime accused in Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case

Bhavesh Bhinde, through his lawyer Sana Raees Khan, had contended that the incident that claimed 17 lives in May this year was an "act of God", and he was implicated for political vendetta.

In Short

• Defence claims incident was an 'act of God' due to unexpected high winds
• Says Bhinde was not director at the time of hoarding construction
• However, prosecution argues sufficient evidence against Bhinde

The Mumbai sessions court on Saturday granted bail to Bhavesh Bhinde, director of an advertising firm and the main accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case. Bhinde's bail plea was allowed by additional sessions Judge VM Pathade. The detailed order is yet to be made available.

Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Bhavesh Bhinde, argued that the unfortunate incident was purely an "act of God" and his client had been implicated due to a political vendetta. She stated that the stormy winds responsible for the incident were beyond Bhinde's control and were entirely an act of nature.

Advocate Khan further explained that Bhinde was not the director of the firm at the time of the hoarding's construction. She pointed out that the land where the hoarding was erected was railway property, meaning civic authority approval was not required, and all necessary legal permissions had been obtained. She added that the Commissioner of Railway Police had issued a tender for advertising rights at Ghatkopar.

Khan also emphasised the importance of the weather report from that day, which showed unexpected high winds that contributed to the collapse. She argued that similar incidents had occurred in the past, but the charges were less severe.

The prosecution, however, opposed Bhinde's bail, arguing there was sufficient evidence of his involvement.

On May 13 this year, 17 people, including a former general manager of Mumbai airport's Air Traffic Control and his wife, were killed when a billboard fell on a petrol pump during sudden high winds and unseasonal rains. Authorities claimed the hoarding, allegedly erected illegally on railway land, lacked structural stability and was excessively large, contributing to the disaster.

Bhinde had gone into hiding after the incident and was arrested on May 17 in Rajasthan, reportedly after altering his appearance. He had previously approached the Bombay High Court, contesting his arrest, but his plea was rejected.