Jani appointed prosecutor in Morbi bridge tragedy case

Rajkot: Vijay Jani, the district government pleader and public prosecutor of Morbi, has been asked to appear as the prosecutor in the Morbi bridge collapse case that had left 135 dead on October 30 last year.
There was a vacuum after the special public prosecutor in the case, S K Vora, resigned in July.
Talking to TOI, Jani said, “My office has received the communication from the law ministry directing me to take up the position as district government pleader in the bridge collapse case.”
The directions came in response eto Jani’s letter to the law minister on August 22 after the Morbi sessions court asked him to clarify on who will will represent the prosectuion before the next hearaing scheduled on September 5.
The hearing of an application filed by the relatives of the victims seeking to add murder charges against accused Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of Oreva Group, and others was deferred on August 22 in absence of public prosecutor. Jani was called by sessions judge P C Joshi as there was nobody to represent the state government.He informed the court that he had no instruction from the state government in this regard.
The court adjourned the matter the scheduled the hearing on September 5.
The relatives of the deceased and injured have formed an association named “Tragedy Victims Association’ and they are appearing in the court proceedings through their advocate to seek justice. All the 10 accused in this case have been arrested and facing trial.