Bombay High Court rejects Bhavesh Bhinde’s plea in Ghatkopar hoarding case

The Story in Brief

The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed Bhavesh Bhinde’s petition seeking release in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, finding no legal defect in his arrest. Bhinde, director of Ego Media Private Limited, was arrested after the hoarding fell during heavy rain and strong winds on May 13, killing 15 people and injuring around 70.

Bhinde’s lawyer argued that Mumbai Police kept him in illegal custody after his apprehension in Udaipur on May 16 and failed to provide written grounds for arrest. The prosecution said he was formally arrested in Mumbai on May 17 after being brought from Rajasthan, and that required procedures were followed. Bhinde’s petition also blamed wind speeds of up to 96 kmph and called the collapse an act of God.

The Indian Opinion

Claims that the collapse was simply an act of God ignore the separate question of whether the structure was safely designed, erected and maintained. But assuming guilt from a devastating outcome would also bypass the trial. The immediate legal issue was the arrest, and the court rejected Bhinde’s challenge. Public confidence will depend on evidence about permissions, construction and safety checks, not competing slogans. What does the investigation establish about the hoarding’s condition before May 13?

Source: thehindu.com

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