Months after a suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi, claiming the lives of 141 people.
The police have issued an arrest warrant against the managing director of the firm responsible for renovation, operation, and maintenance of the bridge.
The Gujarat Police on Sunday issued an arrest warrant against Jaysukh Patel, the promoter of Ajanta Oreva Group. The police have also issued a lookout circular against Patel, whose company was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era suspension bridge.
On January 16, Jaysukh Patel had moved an anticipatory bail plea in a Morbi sessions court fearing arrest in the case. On Saturday, the session court adjourned the hearing on the anticipatory bail application of Ajanta Manufacturing Limited’s managing director till February 1.
The court of principal district and sessions judge P C Joshi deferred the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea moved by Jaysukh Patel to February 1 as the public prosecutor was not present.
OREVA GROUP’S ROLE IN MORBI TRAGEDY
The suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi town collapsed on October 30 last year, killing 135 persons. The bridge was maintained and operated by Oreva Group as per an agreement signed with Morbi municipality.
It had signed a 15-year contract for the operation and maintenance of the bridge. The contract was signed between Morbi municipal corporation and Ajanta Oreva company in March 2022 and was valid till 2037.
Following the tragedy that claimed over 130 lives, a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report revealed that rusty cables, broken anchor pins, and loose bolts were among the lapses that were not addressed while renovating the suspension bridge. The report further revealed that the Oreva Group did not hire any expert agency to assess the load-bearing capacity of the bridge before throwing it open to the public.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the government to investigate the Morbi tragedy cited several lapses on the part of Oreva Group in repairs, maintenance and operation of the British-era bridge.