Guj court denies bail to 7 accused in Morbi bridge collapse case

The British-era bridge collapsed on October 30, 2022, just a few days after it was re-opened post-repairs. The managing director of Oreva Group, Jaysukh Patel, surrendered to the court and was arrested on February 1

A sessions court in Gujarat denied bail to seven people, arrested in connection with a bridge collapse in Morbi town on October 30, 2022, in which 135 persons lost their lives. Nearly 250 persons were on the hanging bridge, a popular tourist site when it caved in.

!35 people were killed in Morbi bridge collapse in October last year (File Photo)

Principal sessions judge P C Joshi on Saturday turned down the bail plea applications of the seven accused, including two managers of the Oreva Group, the company responsible for operating and maintaining the bridge.

The British-era bridge collapsed on October 30, 2022, just a few days after it was re-opened post-repairs. The managing director of Oreva Group, Jaysukh Patel, surrendered to the court and was arrested on February 1.

The police had last week filed a charge sheet in the case and arrested 10 people in connection with the case, including Patel. In the 1,262-page charge sheet, Patel was named as the prime accused and absconder.

The other nine arrested persons include two managers of the firm, two ticket-booking clerks, three security guards and two sub-contractors who were engaged in the repair works by Oreva Group.

The bail pleas of all nine were rejected earlier by the Gujarat high court and sessions court. Except for the two sub-contractors, the other seven once again approached court for bail on Thursday.

Earlier, a special investigation team (SIT), which was formed by the state government to probe the collapse, had cited several lapses on the part of the firm.

All 10 accused, including Patel, are charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (an act which endangers human life), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing rash or negligent act).