AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government chose not to oppose
Oreva Group
MD
Jaysukh Patel
’s bail application in the Morbi suspension footbridge collapse case when it came up for hearing in the high court on Wednesday, submitting that it would like to leave the plea’s merits or otherwise to the judiciary’s “discretion”.
The families of the 135 people killed when the bridge collapsed on October 30 last year pleaded with the court to dismiss the bail plea filed by Patel, who has been behind bars since January 31.
He faces multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in his capacity as the promoter of the company contracted to maintain and operate the British-era footbridge.
Lawyer
Rahul Sharma
, representing some of the victims’ kin, argued that people accused of less grave offences than those Patel is facing had remained in jail for longer.
The court reserved its verdict on
Patel
’s plea while granting bail to six other accused, including three security guards, two booking clerks and a manager employed by Oreva.
