Mumbai Police Deepens Probe Into Ghatkopar Hoarding Tragedy
The Mumbai Police has intensified its investigation into the devastating Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, now examining potential criminal misconduct charges against suspended IPS officer Qaiser Khalid. The tragic incident that occurred in May last year claimed 17 lives and left several others injured, shaking the city to its core.
Corruption Allegations and ACB Involvement
According to official sources, the Mumbai crime branch recently incorporated sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) into the First Information Report (FIR) following recommendations from the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB). This development comes after the crime branch submitted an initial report to the ACB in January this year, alleging that Khalid's actions resulted in significant losses to the state exchequer and potentially constituted offenses under the anti-corruption legislation.
An official closely associated with the investigation revealed, "As per the ACB letter, the crime branch added sections of the Prevention Of Corruption Act in the FIR recently and are investigating whether there is evidence to prove criminal misconduct or corruption charges against Khalid. Depending on what comes forth in the FIR, the appropriate decision will be taken at the chargesheet stage."
Financial Trail and Key Connections
While the crime branch has not directly established a financial trail leading to Khalid, court documents reveal intriguing connections. The chargesheet notes that Arshad Khan, one of the accused in the case, received Rs 84 lakh from Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of the illegal hoarding that collapsed. Investigators have discovered that Khan was also a partner in a company where Khalid's wife held partnership.
During police interrogation, Khan claimed he provided legitimate services to Bhinde and received payment for them. The crime branch investigation uncovered that Khan had deposited cheques from Bhinde into various bank accounts before converting them into cash. However, investigators have yet to officially determine what happened to the substantial cash amounts handed over to Arshad Khan.
Five individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the case, and the crime branch has filed a chargesheet against them. Notably, while Khalid wasn't named in the initial chargesheet, the ongoing investigation continues to examine his role and potential liability in the tragedy.
Suspension and Ongoing Investigation
Qaiser Khalid was suspended immediately following the hoarding collapse incident and has not been reinstated since. The state government took swift action against the officer as public outrage grew over the preventable tragedy that snuffed out 17 lives.
The investigation took a significant turn when the ACB wrote to Mumbai Police suggesting that since they had probed the original case, they would be better positioned to investigate the criminal misconduct aspect as well. This recommendation prompted the crime branch to expand its probe to include potential corruption angles.
As the investigation continues, authorities are meticulously examining all evidence to determine whether criminal misconduct charges can be substantiated against the suspended IPS officer. The outcome of this probe will be crucial in delivering justice to the victims' families and ensuring accountability for one of Mumbai's most tragic urban disasters.
