Out on bail, industrialist accused in Morbi bridge collapse 'honoured', weighed against modak in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: In a grand religious function, the key accused in Morbi suspension bridge collapse and industrialist Jaysukh Patel was weighed with modaks (sweet dumpling) in Morbi district, triggering a fresh round of controversy over his role in the tragedy and the plight of 135 family members who lost their loved ones about two years ago.

Photos and videos of Patel sitting on one end of a decorated scale and laddus equivalent to his weight on the other end have gone viral on social media. The organisers said that the modak, weighing 75 kg, will be distributed among 60,000 Patidar families as prasad.

Patel, the managing director of clock-making firm Oreva Group, attended a religious function organised by Kadva Patidar Kanya Kelavani Mandal in Morbi district. It is an organisation of influential Kadva Patidar, sub-caste group of the Patidars.

The organisers had invited him for the opening ceremony of Uma Rang Bhavan, Uma Adarsh Marriage Hall and Pran Pratistha (consecration) in Umiya Mataji Mandir, at Uma Sanskar Dham at Lajai, barely half-an-hour drive from the location of the ill-fated bridge. The function was held between November 13 and 15. The organisers maintained that Patel was invited as the son of late O R Patel, the philanthropist who founded the Ajanta Group, the famed clock-making firm.

"Jaysukh bhai's dada (father) O R Patel donated this land costing Rs 80,000 back then which now runs into three-four hundred crores. So, when we hold such a religious function should we not invite his family? Everyone is sad after the tragic incident but it doesn't mean that we don't remember the family. He built schools all over Saurashtra where students from all communities study. He (Jaysukh) sought permission from the court which was granted," AK Patel, chairman of the trust, told DH.

To attend the function, Patel had moved the local court seeking permission to enter Morbi district for three days from November 13 to November 15, saying that he was one of the trustees. Patel is out on regular bail and one of the conditions prohibits him from entering the limits of Morbi district.

The state government had objected to the request saying that he was not an authority such as president or chairman of the organisation which would require his presence. The state submitted that he was facing serious allegations and most of the victims live in Morbi district. The prosecution also stated that "there are all chances that the situation of law and order may be disturbed" if his application was allowed.

The sessions judge Dilip Mahida allowed Patel's plea ordering that he was permitted to enter Morbi only to participate in the religious function. The court noted that Patel was following his bail condition as there were no adverse remarks against him.

On 30th October, 2022, the British-era pedestrian suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi town resulting in the death of 135 people in the Machchu river.

Investigation revealed that it was a result of lapses at administrative level to follow due procedure as per government norms and also due to technical incompetence to repair the bridge and test it before opening it to the public. Oreva Group had the responsibility of managing the bridge.