CSTM bridge auditor's bail plea rejected

Mumbai: A magistrate court on Friday rejected the bail application filed by Neeraj Kumar Desai, the structural auditor, arrested after the Himalaya Footover Bridge collapsed outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus last month leaving six people dead and injuring several others.  

NN Joshi, Metropolitan Magistrate in Esplanade court on Friday rejected the Desai’s bail plea.  

Public prosecutor Rajendra Suryavanshi opposed bail on the ground that the investigation is at initial stage and still under progress. He had also contended that the crime is of serious nature and if the accused is released he might tampered with the evidence.

Besides Desai, the police have also arrested two other Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official in connection with the incident. They are assistant engineer S.F. Kakulte and executive engineer Anil Patil, both used to work with the bridges department of the civic body.  

Desai’s firm had reportedly carried out the structural audit of the bridge and declared it safe for use despite some corrosion in the structure. A preliminary report into the collapse submitted by the BMC had said the structural audit of the foot overbridge at CSMT railway station in South Mumbai was not carried out correctly.  The police arrested Desai after they had ascertained negligence on his part.