Anatomy of the Morbi Coverup: The Scam, The Disaster and The Hushing Up

Well before the tragedy struck in the hanging bridge, Oreva group had planned the contingency in case they have to flee Morbi. It is quite evident from their conspicuous absence presently and their website failing to mention even one of present Directors. The website although registered after Ajanta group founder was no more, talks only about Late  Odhavjibhai Patel.

 One Person, Multiple Name.

Now Government of India's corporate database states Late Odhavjibhai's official name to be, "
Odhavjibhai Ravjibhai Bhalodia". Patel is only their caste name, for unofficial and social purposes, most Bhalodia people use Patel as surnames and that is perfectly acceptable, nothing foul in that. For Middle name, their custom is to use Father's name or husband's name (Which actually helps in searching database and building Ancestry trees for us, not that they meant that).

Ajanta group's other brand name, ORPAT ie O.R.Patel is testimony to that practice, but that segment is handled by a different son , Pravin Kumar Patel or PravinKumar Odhavjibhai Bhalodia  and is handled by different Corporate Entity , Orpat Industries. Since he is not part of Oreva group , there is no point searching into that. 

But this proves beyond all doubt, their Surname in all official documents are Bhalodia and not Patel.  Similarly there might be hundreds of Jaysukh Patel, but ". Jaysukhbhai Odhavjibhai Bhalodia" might just be quite an unique name.

Since Ministry of Corporate Affairs insists unique Director Identification Number or DIN is issued only in the official name used in current passport (old rule, perhaps now the name in aadhaar card), all honest directors use that name in website, bank accounts and obviously in signature.

 Apparently When he wrote a book, "Samasya Aane Samadhan" he used his name to be "Jaysukhbhai Patel, MD, Ajanta Oreva group" where he lectured how to run a country, state or a business.  Absolutely "Mujhe Doh Mujhe, Humey Sab kuchh Aata Hai" school of Humbug philosophy, a book priced Rs. 200 and nobody bought it and now giving it free from Oreva Group website.  Statutory warning, if you read even the preface of it now, your blood will boil.

Why was he introducing himself as "Jaysukh bhai Patel, MD, Oreva group" to Media as his official name? Maybe only he can tell from overseas hideout . 

Why has he become unreachable since the day of the tragedy?

Jaysukh Bhalodia is not a newbie, he was appointed as MD of Ajanta Manufacturing in 1994, he should be knowing all these.

Is he still in India or gone away?

FIRST CAME PROBE, THEN SIT, THEN DETAILED PROBE and out came some incompetent PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.

Although some Minister Ordered Probe, Chief Minister of Gujarat made that Special Investigation under SIT of competent people and Supreme Leader aka PM Modi himself tutored those competent people on how to conduct a detailed probe,  today some low ranked people (like ticketing clerk, private security guards) who were arrested from the site of accident were taken to the court and remanded in Police custody . 

But when public prosecutor said, "These people are charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder" and in the same press brief went on to say "the Directors of the Oreva group in the contract",  the signs of cover-up becomes evident. 

Thankfully for these incompetent prosecutors, these kind of "Meet the press" happens on the foot-path of the court complex, preferably under the shade of a tree ... while journalists jostle among themselves for elbow room and 20 different journalists shout 10 different questions in 3 languages at the same time. Therefore no meaningful questions can be asked to the person briefing, such Prosecutors scoot away in the journalistic melee. All that remains is the audio or audio-visual recording of the prepared statement. Same happened here.

Questions for Public PROSECUTOR, now I ask: 

1. Is he aware the MD of Oreva came himself for reopening and his family members (incidentally Directors of Overa) cut the ribbons ?

2. Is he aware, MD of Oreva himself boasted that he gave the Sub-contract of repair work within Rs 2 Crore?

3. Is he, the public prosecutor aware that MD of Oreva said, no more repair work will be needed for 7-8years .. is Public Prosecutor know that MD of Oreva group is the director and head of Oreva group of companies?

4. Is Public Prosecutor aware that, Charging Ticket Counter Clerk with Culpable homicide in a bridge collapse is same as charging Airlines Ticket Seller for Air crash or Railway Ticket Clerk for railway accidents caused by maintenance negligence?

5. Is the Public Prosecutor aware that Crowd Management, Civil Infrastructure Protection is the job of the Police? How can 3 security guards prevent 500 people from going on the bridge? Why were they even arrested ?

6. Is the public prosecutor aware that, hanging bridge of Morbi is a public thoroughfare and not a private road or joyride? That being the case, Morbi Municipality (Nagar Palika) is fully responsible for its safety .  Why no one from Municipality is named in the FIR? Why no signatories of the scamming, money-spining contract for Oreva not booked? The Sub-Contractor of the contract are charged with Culpable homicide, but main contract signatories go Scot-free?

7. Before getting Fitness certificate, how can MD of Oreva reopen the bridge? Does Public prosecutor know, which political luminaries from Morbi Municipality were present in that ceremony? Is Oreva MD is not even culpable after that, but 3 security guards Oreva appointed then on temporary basis are?

Such questions Run riots in any sane person's head after knowing at least 135 are dead from bridge collapse.

 November 2, A perfect date for Coverup And hushing up the story:

There are so many distractions today,  let me list them out.. perfect day to push Morbi Story out of headlines.

1. World Cup T20 match of India. 

2. Smog in Delhi. 

3. Waterlogging in Chennai. 

4. By-elections in 6 states.

5. Shah rukh's Birthday. 

These events are each news worthy, are enough to draw attention to 99.9% Indians away from Morbi. But on the day like today, if I can't write a blog dedicated to the lost souls of Morbi and ask poignant questions, then shame on me and shame on my education.

Answers :

On 31st Oct, I asked the question "Who gave the contract of Bridge Repair and Maintenance for 15 years to clock-maker Ajanta?" 

Correct answer will be, In 2007, then Gujarat CM Modi gave the contract to Ajanta. This bridge was closed for safety reasons after Gujarat Earthquake.

On 2022, that contract was renewed for another 15 years.  There are tale-tell signs of the old contract in the new contract. For 15 years, all Ajanta group did was to find local-handyman and masons and do patch-works and sell tickets to "Jhulto Pul" and treat it as a joyride.

Bonus Information for Journalists: 

The aluminium flooring lightened the weight and allowed larger sways while swinging and if you look at Google Map, you will find many pictures of people crossing that bridge, where aluminium flooring can be seen. Even how it got damaged before and formed a "V" like shape. So if any Construction Expert in India says ("Indian Experts can say that") changing Bridge flooring from Wood to Aluminium made it heavier, that is neither the truth nor factually correct (Stay clear of such experts). Wood is much more dense and therefore heavier than Aluminium. In fact, Aluminium made it lighter and converted the bridge into a unsafe joyride like a swing, creating higher stress on the old wires and one of them snapped. 

Replace Costly Wood with Aluminium Works in Windows, so jugaad (patchwork) king loved that and used that in swing ie Suspension Bridge at Morbi.

There are older videos of Morbi bridge on YouTube also. Do take a look before BJP tries to get them down.