Director of Advertising Agency Arrested in Connection with Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse

The Mumbai Police has taken into custody Bhavesh Bhinde, the director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd, the advertising agency responsible for the massive hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar.

The tragedy unfolded on May 13, when the oversized billboard owned by Bhinde’s company fell on a busy petrol pump, resulting in 16 fatalities and numerous injuries.

The hoarding, exceeding the permissible size limits, had been installed on a 10-year lease in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar East. Notably, the company had applied for recognition in the Limca Book of Records for having the largest commercial hoarding in India.

Following the unfortunate incident, Bhinde was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Efforts to apprehend Bhinde were intensive, with police teams from Mumbai and Gujarat collaborating in the search. Bhinde was traced to Udaipur, Rajasthan, and subsequently brought to Mumbai after a brief stop in Ahmedabad.

It is worth mentioning that Bhinde has a history of legal entanglements, including allegations of rape, molestation, and cheating. He had managed to secure anticipatory bail in previous cases, but now faces renewed legal scrutiny in connection with the hoarding collapse.

Upon arrival in Mumbai, Bhinde was taken to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and then to a crime branch office for further legal proceedings.

The tragic incident in Chhedanagar has raised questions about safety regulations and accountability in the advertising industry, prompting authorities to take swift action in holding those responsible.