Mumbai: Observing that the incident had taken place due to the welder’s “error”, a sessions court on Wednesday granted bail to three senior officials linked to the Metro Line 4 project who were arrested in connection with the fatal parapet collapse in Mulund that killed one person and seriously injured three others.In three separate orders, the court said the incident appeared to have occurred suddenly and held that the seriousness of the offence alone was not enough to deny bail. Relief was granted to project director Harish Chohan, and project managers Kuldip Sankpal and Avdhut Inamdar.The judge said no purpose would be served by keeping the three “highly qualified professionals” in custody for a long period, while trial remained pending. The court also noted that their custodial interrogation was complete and that none had prior criminal antecedents.On February 14, a 6ft×4 ft concrete parapet segment of the underconstruction elevated Metro Line 4 (Wadala–Kasarvadavali) viaduct fell on an autorickshaw and a car passing below on LBS Road in Mulund West, killing a 50-year-old man and injuring three others.“The incident had taken place due to the error of the welder accused. The IO (investigating officer) can continue with the investigation on the basis of material documents so far collected from the offices of various companies that were involved in the project,” the judge said.Inamdar, 53, was arrested on February 20. While granting him bail, the court noted that he was a consultant on the project, and not a contractor. The judge also observed that he had not appointed the welder whose conduct allegedly led to the collapse.Sankpal, 39, was arrested on March 4. In his case, the court recorded the defence submission that the project involved multiple specialised teams handling safety, design and labour execution, while his role was limited to attending meetings, reviewing daily progress and coordinating with the head office. The court also noted the claim that he was not a beneficiary.Chohan, 60, was arrested on February 14. In granting him bail, the judge similarly noted the defence argument that the project’s functioning depended on several specialised teams and that witness statements indicated there appeared to have been a mistake by the welder.Police alleged the structure had been installed two days earlier but had not been properly concretised. Prosecution argued that as project director and managers, the three accused were responsible for site safety and had failed to ensure basic precautions despite knowing the structure was vulnerable. Defence lawyers counter-argued that the officials were either not present at the site or were not responsible for day-to-day execution. They said welder Ramashish Yadav had been instructed to cut hooks only where concretisation was complete, but allegedly ignored directions and cut the hooks of the corner precast parapet, causing it to fall before fleeing.The court reiterated that bail is the rule and refusal an exception, adding that an accused person is better placed to defend himself while free than in custody.
