The Gujarat High Court on Thursday granted bail to the three security guards who were on duty on the suspension bridge in Morbi town when it collapsed on October 30 last year, killing more than a hundred people.
The guards – Alpesh Gohil, Dilip Gohil, and Mukesh Chauhan – were among the ten people arrested in connection with the tragedy. The bridge, which was built during the British era and maintained by Oreva Group, collapsed just days after it was reopened following repairs. The accused trio’s lawyer argued that the guards were only doing their job and played no part in the decision-making process that led to the disaster.
Public prosecutor Mitesh Amin did not oppose the bail pleas, stating that the “principal liability lies on the owners of Oreva Group and persons who performed the fabrication job (on the bridge)”.
Justice Dave said he was allowing the bail pleas as the applicants were security personnel hired by the company.
Those who are still behind bars include Jaysukh Patel, managing director of the Oreva Group; managers of the firm Dipak Parekh and Dinesh Dave; ticket-booking clerks Mansukh Topiya and Mahadev Solanki, and sub-contractors Prakash Parmar and Devang Parmar who had been hired by Oreva Group for repair works on the bridge.
The court granted bail to the guards, taking into account the lawyer’s submission. The judge noted that the primary responsibility for the accident lies with the owners of Oreva Group and those who performed the fabrication job on the bridge.
The ten accused have been charged under IPC section 304, among other offences. While the three security guards have been granted bail, the other seven accused remain in custody.
Also Read: Immigration Racket: FIR Against 3 Agents Who Made Victim Family Take Ill-Fated Boat Ride
