Alleged roles of arrested suspects

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

2 1 minute read

Janhavi Marathe and Sagar Kumbhar are believed to be key figures in illicit hoarding and financial transactions

Sagar Kumbhar and Janhavi Marathe

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Police have detailed the alleged roles of Janhavi Marathe and Sagar Kumbhar alias Sagar Patil, the two individuals arrested in Goa on Saturday in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case.

Janhavi Marathe, according to police reports, was deeply involved in setting up the hoarding and allegedly benefited financially from it, receiving Rs 28.57 lakh during her tenure. It is claimed that she even bought a Mercedes, with EMI payments made by Ego Media. Testifying in court, police said: “Marathe was the director of Ego Media Pvt Ltd from September 2016 to December 2023. She was instrumental in the tender process and illegal hoarding; many letters bear his signature. »

Police revealed that Marathe had corresponded extensively with GRP headquarters, pleading for Ego Media to win the tender. One of these letters reportedly stated that the railway department would win if Ego Media was awarded the tender. “On September 9, 2021, she requested the GRP to approve the tender of her company for the benefit of the railway department,” the police added.

Marathe also reportedly claimed that if the GRP allowed a hoarding of 80 x 80 feet, the railway department would see a 400 per cent increase in revenue. “On May 7, 2021, she wrote to the GRP, suggesting that the installation of a hoarding near the BPCL petrol pump would generate substantial revenue,” the police said.

Sagar Kumbhar, the other accused arrested by the police, identified as the contractor, allegedly constructed the faulty hoarding. “The foundations of the illegal hoarding were faulty and Kumbhar was responsible for its construction,” police said.

Lawyer Shahrukh Shaikh, representing Marathe, refuted his involvement in the hoarding, attributing its collapse to unfortunate circumstances.

Earlier, the SIT had arrested Ego Media director Bhavesh Bhinde and Manoj Sanghu. The crime branch sought 14-day police custody for Marathe and Patil, with the Esplanade court granting police custody till June 15.