Ghatkopar hoarding collapse accused Bhinde on the run, was arrested in a rape case

Bhavesh Bhinde, director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd which installed the collapsed hoarding in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, was arrested by Mulund police two months ago after his girlfriend complained of being a victim of rape under the pretext of marriage.

The 51-year-old was missing from his residence and has switched off his mobile phone. He is currently untraceable, said the police. .

Bhide has multiple other cases against him for violating Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) laws for billboards, including cutting/poisoning trees that blocked his advertisements.


A political war has begun after photos of Bhide with Uddhav Thackeray surfaced online. Chhagan Bhujbal defended Thackeray saying that a lot of people take photos with political leaders, and that does not mean the politicians know them.

The hoarding collapsed in a petrol pump on Monday after a dust storm hit the city with winds of over 60 kmph. The tragedy claimed the lives of at least 14 people, while 74 have been injured amid allegations of weak foundation. There were around 150 vehicles in the petrol pump, with some taking shelter from rain at the time of collapse.

The rescue operation by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Maharashtra Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and other teams was done for two days after the collapse.

The hoarding had dimensions of 120x120 square feet, which exceeds the permit limit of 40x40 square feet.

The BMC said that it had not given legal permission to put on the hoarding. It has now issued notices to eight other illegal hoardings in the area asking them to be pulled down within 10 days.