Mumbai: Contractor denied bail in Kurla building collapse case – Times of India

MUMBAI: Denying bail to contractor Dilip Biswas, who was arrested in the Kurla building collapse case, the sessions court said it is clear that the accused had put 37 people in the building which had been declared dangerous for human residence by the municipal corporation and even, when there was lack of electricity and water connection in the building.
The court said that in the mishap, 19 people who were unskilled or skilled labour, hailing from West Bengal and Rajasthan and having some knowledge of the carpentry lost their lives.
“There is surely a public hue and cry over the incident. In such situations, when the investigation is still in progress, it is not proper to release the accused on bail, though the rule says that bail is right and denial is exception,” sessions court said.
Biswas was arrested on June 28. The accused filed the bail application on the grounds that he was victim of circumstances as he had no prior knowledge about the conditions of the building when he took the premises on leave and license. The prosecution has strongly opposed the bail application, on the ground that the investigation is still in progress and other accused are yet to be arrested. The prosecution also submitted that he was likely to flee.
Last week, the court rejected the pre-arrest bail plea of accused Ranjani Rathod, a home maker.
The court said that the 38-year-old woman was among those who were prima facie responsible for the building collapse that killed 19 people.