Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: BMC chief summoned for questioning; investigation intensifies

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Crime Branch has summoned Gajanan Bellale, the chief BMC officer of Ghatkopar East, for questioning in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that occurred on May 13. The collapse, amid strong winds and heavy rains, resulted in the deaths of 17 people and left 74 others injured.
Bellale has been asked to appear for questioning today.This comes after the Mumbai Sessions Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Jhanvi Marathe, former director of Ego Media, on May 31. Marathe, who has been declared absconding by the Mumbai Crime Branch, sought relief from arrest regarding the hoarding collapse. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch opposed this bail plea in court.
Officials informed the court that the paperwork for the collapsed hoarding was completed during Marathe's tenure from 2020 to December 2023, before the current director, Bhavesh Bhide, assumed charge. So far, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded statements from 20 people in connection with the case.
The Mumbai Crime Branch recently made a second arrest in the case, detaining Manoj Ramkrishna Sanghu, who is on the BMC-approved engineer's list. Sanghu was arrested for approving the structural stability certificate on April 24, 2023, and allegedly issued this certificate to EGO Media Private LTD for the collapsed hoarding.
Bhavesh Bhide, the director of Ego Media, was previously arrested by the Mumbai crime branch in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and brought back to Mumbai. Authorities are probing the awarding of the hoarding contract to Bhide and the earnings he derived from it.
Mumbai police registered a case under IPC sections 304, 338, 337, and 34 against Bhavesh Bhide and others at Pantnagar police station. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner stated that Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde had ordered the inspection of all hoardings.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities strive to determine the full extent of responsibilities and regulatory lapses that may have contributed to the tragic incident.