Arrest Warrant Issued Against Jaysukh Patel Following Morbi Bridge Collapse

NEW DELHI: A Gujarat court issued an arrest warrant for Jaysukh Patel of the Overa Group in relation to the collapse of the Morbi bridge, which resulted in the deaths of 134 people. According to sources, the British-era bridge across the Machchu River was given to Ajanta Manufacturing Limited (Oreva Group) for renovation, maintenance, and operation.

Section 70 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was used to issue the arrest warrant (CrPC). The court issued an arrest warrant against Jaysukh Patel of the Overa Group, which has a contract for the reconstruction of the Morbi bridge, according to government prosecutor Sanjay Vora, who was quoted by media. He hasn't been taken into custody in 70 days. No lookout alert has yet been sent.

It should be noted that Patel had previously requested an anticipatory bail in the matter in a Morbi court session on January 20, but the hearing was postponed until February 1 due to the absence of the public prosecutor.

Moreover, nine people have so far been detained in the case, including four Oreva Group workers. Two managers and an equal number of ticket sales clerks from the Oreva Group, who was in charge of the British-era bridge, were among the people who were detained.

When a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed in November of last year, sending people into the Machchhu River, up to 135 people, including women and children, died and more than 100 needed medical attention for their wounds.

The accident was brought before the Gujarat High Court on November 7, and on that day it sent notices to various officials, including those in the state Home department, requesting a report within a week. The Gujarat High Court, which was already considering arguments in the case, was reportedly asked by the Supreme Court in November if the bridge collapse occurrence qualified as an "enormous catastrophe."

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