Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Owner of collapsed hoarding linked to blacklisted firms

Crime Branch officials, along with Bhavesh Bhinde (black shirt). Pic/Rajesh Gupta

The Crime Branch has established that Bhavesh Bhinde, director of Ego Media Pvt. Ltd has erected numerous illegal hoardings across the city through blacklisted companies. According to Crime Branch officials, Bhinde disclosed during the investigation that he, along with his associates, had established companies such as Slop Media, Gujju Ad Pvt. Ltd, Forty Band Com, Meadows Media, and Gujju Ad Proprietors. These companies have been blacklisted due to their involvement in financial misconduct.

"Bhinde used to take help from his associates and now we suspect that these illegal companies erected illegal hoardings across the city," said the police.
The matter came to light on May 13 when an illegal hoarding collapsed on the BPCL petrol pump, claiming 17 lives and leaving 80 injured. The Crime Branch had arrested Bhavesh Bhinde on May 17 and a special investigation team had been formed to investigate the matter.

The Crime Branch officials had stated in the court that Bhinde had established 28 hoardings across the city and the returns he earned are estimated to be high. The police would also investigate the fabrication, installation, and funding of these hoardings.

The Crime Branch is yet to make any fresh arrest in this matter. The Pantnagar police had booked Bhinde and others under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and other relevant sections of the IPC.

The Esplanade court extended Bhinde's custody up to May 29.