On May 13, a devastating incident occurred in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, where a massive 120×120-foot advertising hoarding collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 16 people and injuries to 74 others. This billboard, significantly exceeding the permissible size of 40×40 feet, was owned by Bhavesh Bhinde of Ego Media Pvt Ltd and had been erected on a 10-year lease. The structure fell onto a busy petrol pump during a brief spell of unseasonal rain and gusty winds, trapping nearly 100 people beneath it.
Following this tragedy, Mumbai Police arrested Bhavesh Bhinde, the director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd. Bhinde’s company had sought recognition from the Limca Book of Records for the hoarding as the largest commercial billboard in India, but this ambitious endeavor ended in disaster. The Pant Nagar police charged Bhinde under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). To apprehend Bhinde, who had fled the city, over ten police teams from Mumbai and Gujarat were mobilized.
Bhinde is also embroiled in additional legal troubles, with two serious allegations in Mulund. In January, a woman from his office accused him of rape and molestation. Although Bhinde secured anticipatory bail from the Bombay High Court, a chargesheet has been filed against him. Additionally, a case of cheating was registered against him in 2016 at the same police station. Furthermore, Bhinde has 21 cases of fines under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, filed against him before 2009. He also contested the 2009 assembly elections as an independent candidate from the Mulund constituency.
The collapse of the oversized hoarding underscores a blatant disregard for regulatory norms and highlights Bhinde’s controversial history. This incident has prompted a comprehensive review of safety standards and regulatory compliance for large advertising structures, emphasizing the necessity for stringent oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting safety regulations and the critical importance of accountability in public safety.
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