Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse: IPS Officer Quaiser Khalid Suspended

The former Police Commissioner of the Government Railway Police (GRP) Mumbai, Quaiser Khalid, has been suspended due to his involvement in the hoarding accident case in Ghatkopar. Quaiser Khalid is an IPS officer of the 1997 Maharashtra cadre and was currently serving as the Additional Director General of Police, Protection of Civil Rights.

13th May Ghatkopar hoarding case | Md. Quaiser Khalid, IPS, Additional Director General of PCR, Maharashtra State suspended with immediate effect until further order in respect of administrative lapses and irregularities in sanctioning the hoarding on his own without the… pic.twitter.com/XHYmQAZC1k

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2024

On May 13, a large hoarding installed by Ego Media at a site reserved for the police welfare fund in Ghatkopar East collapsed, causing the deaths of 17 people and injuring 80. This illegal hoarding, installed at a location under the jurisdiction of the Railway Police, had been approved by the then Police Commissioner of Railway Police, Quaiser Khalid.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered at Pantnagar Police Station, and the Crime Branch was tasked with investigating the crime. The special investigation team of the Crime Branch arrested four individuals, including Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of Ego Media Company, and former director Janhavi Marathe. The special investigation team has also recorded statements from officials of the Railway Police and the Municipal Corporation.

The special team's investigation highlighted negligence on the part of the then Railway Police Commissioner. Consequently, Quaiser Khalid, who was currently serving as the Additional Director General of Police, Protection of Civil Rights in Maharashtra, has been suspended. The state's Home Department issued the suspension order for Khalid on Tuesday.

According to the report by Maharashtra's Director General, Khalid ignored approved norms and allowed the installation of large hoardings measuring 120 x 140 square feet, thus misusing his authority. The Maharashtra government has issued an order stating that IPS officer Mohammed Quaiser Khalid is suspended with immediate effect until further notice. During his suspension, Khalid will receive subsistence allowance, dearness allowance, and other benefits, provided he certifies that he is not engaged in any other employment or business.

A senior official revealed that Arshad Khan, the co-director of the company and the wife of IPS officer Quaiser Khalid, was interrogated by the special investigation team 15 days ago. Arshad Khan had received a large sum of money from Ego Media through checks. Arshad had accepted large anonymous checks from Ego Media and deposited them in the bank accounts of 10 to 15 people in Govandi Shivaji Nagar to withdraw cash. This information was revealed by the special investigation team. Police sources have indicated that Arshad will be called for questioning again soon to determine the exact amount received from Ego Media and how the funds were utilized.