In a significant decision, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed the plea of Bhavesh Bhinde, the director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd, in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that resulted in 17 fatalities and injured over 70 people.
Bhinde was arrested following the disastrous event on May 13, when a large hoarding installed by his company collapsed in Ghatkopar. He moved the court seeking to quash the FIR lodged against him, arguing that the incident was an “act of God” and not a result of negligence.
The division bench, led by Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, determined there was no legal mistake in the arrest process and that the constitutional safeguards ensuring a citizen’s liberty were properly followed. “There is no impairment in the procedure. The petition is dismissed,” the court stated firmly.
Charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Bhinde remains in judicial custody. His request for interim bail, pending the appeal’s hearing, was also denied by the justices.
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Defending his case, Bhinde referred to the India Meteorological Department’s weather bulletin from May 12, which did not predict the severe dust storms with gusty winds that occurred on the day of the collapse. He argued these extraordinary weather conditions were unforeseeable and led to the hoarding’s failure, asserting that neither he nor his firm should be held accountable.
