Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, which claimed 17 lives on May 13, has unearthed a complex money trail implicating high-ranking officials. The spotlight is on the wife of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Quaisar Khalid, who was the Government Railway Police (GRP) Commissioner at the time. Ego Media Pvt Ltd, the company owning the ill-fated hoarding, is at the centre of this investigation.
Ego Media allegedly transferred Rs 46.5 lakh through 39 transactions into the account of Mahpara Garments, a private entity where Summana, Khalid’s wife, is a partner. These transactions, conducted through ten different bank accounts, occurred between 2021 and 2022. The funds were reportedly withdrawn by one Arshad Khan, who is also a partner in Mahpara Garments, according to the Registrar of Companies.
The investigation reveals that Khalid, a 1997-batch IPS officer now posted to the Protection of Civil Rights, approved the erection of the fourth hoarding by Ego Media without the due process of inviting tenders. This action has raised significant questions about procedural lapses and possible corruption. A senior SIT officer disclosed that individuals linked to the ten bank accounts were from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. They reported that Khan had directed them to deposit the cheques from Ego Media, which were subsequently withdrawn by him. The police are set to record Khan’s statement imminently, and Khalid, along with his wife Summana, will also likely be summoned for questioning.
Further scrutiny has revealed irregularities in Khalid’s transfer and approval timelines. Despite being transferred to the Protection of Civil Rights on December 16, 2022, Khalid signed the approval papers for the hoarding on December 18, a Sunday. This was a day before he officially handed over charge to his successor, Ravindra Shishve. Normally, such critical decisions are deferred during transition periods to prevent administrative inconsistencies. The SIT has also summoned Sunil Dalvi, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) N ward officer, and Gajanan Bellale to understand their communications with Bhavesh Bhinde of Ego Media. The BMC had issued notices to the GRP for bypassing its approval process before granting the hoarding nod, only to later retract them. The unfolding investigation highlights a concerning nexus between corporate entities and public officials, raising serious questions about the integrity of the approval processes for public structures. The SIT’s ongoing probe promises to bring further clarity and accountability in this tragic case.
