Mumbai Hoarding Tragedy: Director Bhavesh Bhinde arrested
On May 13, a tragic incident in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, resulted in the collapse of a massive 120×120-foot advertising hoarding, causing 16 fatalities and injuring 74 individuals. The billboard, far exceeding the permissible size of 40×40 feet, belonged to Bhavesh Bhinde of Ego Media Pvt Ltd and had been erected on a 10-year lease. During a brief spell of unseasonal rain and gusty winds, the structure fell onto a busy petrol pump, trapping nearly 100 people beneath it.
In response, Mumbai Police arrested Bhavesh Bhinde, 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 project ended disastrously. 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 locate Bhinde, who had fled the city, over ten police teams from Mumbai and Gujarat were deployed.
Bhinde faces additional legal troubles, including 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. Another case of cheating was registered against him in 2016 at the same police station. Moreover, 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 the disregard for regulatory norms and highlights Bhinde’s controversial history. This incident has prompted a thorough examination of safety standards and regulatory compliance for large advertising structures, emphasizing the necessity for stringent oversight to prevent future tragedies. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting safety regulations and the importance of accountability in public safety.
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