Bail Granted to Main Accused in Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse That Claimed 17 Lives

Bhavesh Bhinde, the primary accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that resulted in 17 fatalities, has been granted bail by a Mumbai court. The incident involved a 250-tonne hoarding that fell onto a petrol station during adverse weather conditions in May.

The court’s decision came from Additional Sessions Judge V M Pathade, who accepted Bhinde’s bail plea on Saturday. His lawyer, Sana Khan, contended that the collapse was an “act of God” caused by “unexpected, unusual wind speeds” and argued that Bhinde was being unfairly targeted due to “political vendetta.” The defense also claimed that Bhinde was not the firm’s director at the time the hoarding was originally installed.

The prosecution opposed the bail, citing substantial evidence linking Bhinde to the case. He faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as the hoarding was illegally erected on railway land.

The tragic collapse occurred on May 13 and claimed the lives of 17 individuals, including a former Air Traffic Control general manager and his wife. The incident has left a lasting impact on the Ghatkopar community, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.

The hoarding, measuring 120×120 sq ft, was an illegal structure that exceeded the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s permissible limit of 40×40 sq ft. Bhavesh Bhinde has a controversial history; he ran as an Independent candidate in the 2009 state elections for the Mulund constituency, during which his affidavit disclosed 23 pending cases against him, including violations of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and bounced cheque issues.