Bhavesh Bhinde Arrested: Ghatkopar Billboard Collapse
Mumbai Hoarding Collapse: The ad agency owner was arrested by Mumbai Police in Udaipur and was brought back to Mumbai on the 17th of May, three days after the tragic billboard collapse incident happened in Ghatkopar.
The ad agency owner of Ego Media Pvt — Bhavesh Bhinde, is the man behind the illegal installation of the billboard which collapsed in Ghatkopar on Monday evening due to a heavy dust storm and gusty winds.
Since the incident took place, Bhinde fled the city and was on the run, changing locations and identity for three days.
Inter-state search ‘secret’ operation to catch the ad agency owner
Mumbai Police Crime Branch initiated a inter-state search operation to catch him. The operation was top secret, and neither the local police had any clue about the secret operation to find Bhinde. Bhinde was found hiding in a hotel in Udaipur with a false identity on Thursday.
The massive billboard [120 x 120 sq.feet] crashed on a busy petrol pump in Ghatkopar leaving 100 people trapped under it, killing 16 and leaving 75 badly injured on Monday.
Reports said that it was illegally erected on the GRP land, and no permission was taken from the BMC. The rescue operation of the victims was led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Authorities brought him back to Mumbai this morning at 5 a.m. at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and then took him to a crime branch office.
He is booked under IPC 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 34 ( Acts done by several people with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Criminal History of Bhinde : 23 Criminal Cases and accusation of rape
A chargesheet has been filed against him on rape accusations by his former girlfriend at the Mulund Police Station, this year in January 2024. Along with it, there are 23 criminal cases registered against him.
CM statement on Ghatkopar Collapse Incident
Maharashtra CM Shinde announced Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and also said that the treatment expenses of the injured will be taken care of by the government.
