Mumbai Police hunt for billboard collapse accused was so secret that even local police did not know, here’s how it was pulled off

The tragic billboard collapse in Mumbai, which claimed 16 lives and left 75 injured, has brought attention to the advertising agency, Ego Media Pvt Ltd, responsible for installing the structure. The company’s owner, Bhavesh Bhinde, evaded police for three days before being arrested in Udaipur following an extensive manhunt spanning three states.

The 120 feet by 120 feet billboard collapsed amidst strong winds and unseasonal rains, prompting swift action from law enforcement agencies.

Realising the police were closing in, Bhavesh Bhinde fled and frequently changed his location, assuming a false identity to evade capture. His journey took authorities through Lonavala, Thane and Ahmedabad, ultimately ending in Udaipur, where he was hiding in a hotel under an assumed name.

How Mumbai Police traced him

The Mumbai Police deployed eight teams, working round-the-clock to track Bhavesh Bhinde. The investigation revealed that after initially fleeing to Lonavala with his driver, Bhavesh Bhinde returned alone to Mumbai the next day.

Also Read: Death toll in Mumbai billboard collapse mounts to 14, rescue operations still on

He then travelled to Thane and continued to Ahmedabad, staying with a relative. He finally sought refuge at a hotel in Udaipur, where he was apprehended by the Crime Branch. The capture was achieved through a combination of technical expertise and human intelligence, with Bhavesh Bhinde using his brother’s name to book the hotel room.

Udaipur Police were clueless of Mumbai Police operation

The operation in Udaipur was conducted so discreetly that even the local police were unaware of it. An official on the investigating team stated, “The operation was a top secret and even the Udaipur police did not know about it.”

The billboard collapse, which occurred at a petrol pump in the Chhedanagar area in Ghatkopar, highlighted severe lapses in the regulatory oversight of advertising installations in Mumbai. This incident has sparked calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards to prevent such tragedies in the future.