Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse: Mumbai Billboard Was Operational Two Months Before 'Structural Stability' Certificate Issued

Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse: The hoarding that collapsed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on May 13 was operational two months before a 'structural stability' certificate was obtained for it, police officials said on Friday. The 14,400 sq ft hoarding's collapse amid rain and thunderstorm, was responsible for crushing 17 people to death and injuring 75 others. An official also said structural engineer Manoj Sanghu, who was arrested in connection with the incident, might have given such stability certificates to more than 25 structures installed by the concerned advertising firm.

As per the Crime Branch's investigation, Manoj Sanghu issued the stability certificate to the hoarding in question on April 24 last year. However, the firm which installed it, Ego Media Private Limited, had started using it since February last year.

The official said, “Sanghu, while issuing the certificate, did not verify whether it was constructed as per norms, adding that he had conspired with directors of the firm and issued the stability certificate irresponsibly.”

“During his interrogation, accused director of Ego Media Private Limited Bhavesh Bhinde, told police officials he and another director, Janhavi Marathe, had given work of preparing a design for erecting the huge hoarding structure at Ghatkopar to structural engineer Sanghu,” the official further stated, as quoted by news agency ANI.

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Marathe is a wanted accused in the case and her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a court on Friday.

It was revealed during investigation that Sanghu received a specific amount of money each month in his bank account from Ego Media Private Limited between June 1, 2022, and April 10, 2024.

“Mumbai Police has so far recorded statements of 15 to 20 persons in this case and will also record statements of the concerned officials of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Government Railway Police (GRP) in the coming days,” the official informed.

Meanwhile, over 100 notices and penalties have been issued against Bhavesh Bhinde.

The notices and penalties are related to violation of rules for erection of billboards, suggesting Bhinde and his company may be the main culprit in an entirely preventable disaster that has prompted action against other outsized and illegal hoardings in the Maharashtra capital and other cities. Chennai too has announced a crackdown on illegal billboards, NDTV reported citing police sources.

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According to Mumbai Crime Branch sources, the SIT recently conducted a search at the residence of Bhavesh Bhinde, and confiscated vital documents pertinent to the case. During the search operation, it was revealed that Bhinde maintains seven bank accounts across various financial institutions, prompting further scrutiny of his financial transactions. Additionally, the SIT is examining the circumstances under which Bhinde secured the hoarding contract and the extent of his earnings from the project.

Bhinde was charged with culpable homicide under IPC section 304, was apprehended in Jaipur on May 16. The crime branch retrieved five mobile phones and six SIM cards from Bhinde's possession.

(With Agency Inputs)