Rajkot: The prosecution in the Morbi bridge collapse case filed a reply in the session court on Saturday, opposing the discharge application filed by the accused. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec 10.
In its reply, the prosecution submitted the roles of all the accused in this case. According to the chargesheet, the accused are accountable for the death of 135 people. The prosecution, which has already submitted evidence, witness statements and forensic reports, stated that it was due to the negligence of the accused that the bridge collapsed, and the accused must face trial.
Vijay Jani, special public prosecutor, said, "We have filed our reply opposing the discharge application of the accused, relying on facts mentioned in the chargesheet. We emphasized that the actions of the accused attract the IPC Sections 304 and 308. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec 10."
All ten accused in the case filed a discharge application before the Morbi sessions court on Tuesday, asking to be discharged from charges under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) on Nov 19.
They argued that: "Prima facie, there is no material to indicate the commission of an offence under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. The facts emerging from the record communicate a case of an accident and no culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Thus, the ingredients of offence, even if taken at face value, at most disclose the offence under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (causing death by negligence)."
The prosecution also submitted draft charges according to the court's request on Nov 19, providing a summary of the role of each accused. Charges have not yet been framed by the trial court.