India, April 19 -- A sessions court in Mumbai has directed the city's crime branch to de-freeze the bank accounts of Bhavesh Bhinde, the prime accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, along with those of his advertising firms-Ego Media and Guju Ads.

In an order passed on March 26, the court observed that the mere issuance and clearance of cheques from the accounts was not sufficient reason to continue the freeze. The court also ordered the release of the savings bank account of Bhinde's business partner, Karan Pujara, noting that he had no connection to the alleged offence.

Bhinde, in his plea, claimed that the funds in his accounts with Bharat Bank, Arihant Bank, and Axis Bank were from legitimate business activities and not pr...