Mumbai doctor's death: High Court to hear plea against BMC and others

Bombay High Court will hear plea against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and others on Friday in matter of death of Dr Deepak Amrapurkar, who died after falling in open manhole while wading through water-logged streets in the city on August 29.

The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with death due to negligence.

The body of Dr Deepak Amarapukar, who was a gastroenterologist at the city-based Bombay hospital, had gone missing on Tuesday following heavy rains in the megapolis, was recovered from a nullah near the Coast Guard office in central Mumbai's Worli on Thursday, police said.

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As per the plea, filed through advocate Ashish Mehta, in leaving the manhole open, and in failing to barricade the manhole, or put any warning signs around it, the civic body exposed "the public at large to danger", and "deprived Dr. Amrapurkar of his life".

Besides the BMC, the plea has the chief minister, the state government, the police commissioner, and the chief engineers, sewage operation and storm water drain departments as parties in the case.

(With inputs from PTI)