Banker death: Builder denied pre-arrest bail
MUMBAI, Nov. 3 -- The Dindoshi sessions court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of builder Bhavesh Gulabchand Sanghrajka, 43, who is facing arrest in connection with the death of 22-year-old Sanskruti Amin on October 8. Sanskruti was killed by a cement block that fell from his under-construction building in Jogeshwari East.
The FIR was registered on the complaint of Sanskruti's father, Anil Umesh Amin, 56, at Meghwadi Police Station. Sanghrajka moved the plea under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for pre-arrest bail. The sessions court passed the order on October 29.
The investigating police officer and the additional public prosecutor Imran K Shaikh opposed Sanghrajka's bail application, arguing that he had ignored previous warnings about falling debris and that the construction site did not comply with government safety norms. They also raised concerns that the builder, described as "an influential person", might tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if granted bail.
Sanghrajka's counsel contended that his client was not present at the site when the mishap occurred and that the project had obtained all requisite permissions, including a Commencement Certificate (CC) issued after inspection of safety measures.
However, the court found that the safety measures at the site were grossly inadequate. Photographs submitted by the investigating officer and the informant's lawyer revealed torn safety nets, gaping holes and heavy debris hanging precariously from the structure. "It appears that utmost care and precautionary measures were not followed," the judge observed.
The court also took exception to the applicant's conduct, pointing out that Sanghrajka had simultaneously filed an anticipatory bail application before the Bombay high court on October 16, without disclosing this fact to the sessions court during arguments held on October 27. The court remarked that the applicant "has not come with clean hands".
Arun Kotian, Sanskruti's uncle said that the anticipatory bail application had been rejected by the court but the builder was absconding. "The police say he and his wife are not at their home," he said. Members of the Billawa community, to which Sanskruti belonged, had also rallied around alongside Tulu and Kannadiga speakers in huge numbers and kickstarted a 'No bail, only jail' protest.
Sanskruti's father, Anil Umesh Amin (56), told HT that his daughter had completed a course in hotel management and had begun working at RBL Bank just a week earlier. "She had just left home at around 9.30 am," he said. "I am still in a state of shock and cannot believe that my only daughter has left me."
Additional sessions judge T T Aglawe noted that photographs showed that the safety nets around the building were torn at many places and construction material was seen hanging from the nets. "Huge holes are seen in the nets, which cannot be termed safety nets," he said.
Stating that the investigation was at a preliminary stage, the judge held that a detailed and fair investigation was warranted to pin responsibility for the incident. "The custodial interrogation of the applicant may be necessary for the same," it noted, after rejecting the bail plea....
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