Morbi Bridge Collapse: Oreva Group's Jaysukh Patel Named As Accused In 1,262-Page Chargesheet

The chargesheet names Jaysukh Patel of Oreva Group, the firm responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the suspension bridge, as an accused in the case.

New Delhi: Police on Friday filed a chargesheet in Gujarat’s Morbi bridge collapse incident which claimed the lives of around 135 people in October last year. 

According to PTI, the 1,262-page chargesheet was filed in the Morbi sessions court by Deputy Superintendent of Police P S Zala, who is the investigating officer of the case. 

The chargesheet also names Jaysukh Patel of Oreva Group, the firm responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the suspension bridge, as an accused in the case. With this, Patel becomes the tenth accused in the case, sources told PTI. 

A magistrate’s court has already issued an arrest warrant against Jaysukh Patel in connection with last year’s bridge collapse incident. PTI reported that his anticipatory bail plea is listed for hearing on February 1. 

Ajanta Manufacturing Limited (Oreva Group) was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river that collapsed on October 30, 2022, claiming the lives of 135 people. 

FSL Report On Bridge Collapse 

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report on the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat has revealed that the Oreva Group had sold over 3,000 tickets on the day the tragedy occurred. 

District government pleader Vijay Jani said: "The group had sold 3,165 tickets on October 30 alone and there was no coordination between ticket booking offices on either end of the bridge.” 

The FIR stated that at least 250 to 300 people were present on the bridge when it collapsed after one of the cables snapped, resulting in the death of 135 people. The bridge had the capacity to take the weight of only about 125 people at a time.  

The Oreva group was tasked with the renovation and maintenance of the Morbi bridge. Oreva Group, in turn, hired Dhrangadhra-based Dev Prakash Solution to renovate the bridge. After renovation, the bridge was opened to the public on the Gujarati New Year on October 26. 

The prosecution in the case said that both the repairing contractors were unqualified to carry out such repair and renovation work.