MUMBAI: Maharashtra govt on Tuesday suspended IPS officer Quaiser Khalid for alleged irregularities in granting approval for the hoarding that crashed in Ghatkopar on May 13, killing 17 people and injuring over 70 others.
Khalid was the Government Railway Police (GRP) commissioner in the city when he allowed Ego Media Pvt Ltd to erect the hoarding. After the crash, he was issued a showcause notice.
Khalid was posted as additional DGP, Protection of Civil Rights, at present.“Govt has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Quaiser Khalid… in respect of administrative lapses and irregularities in sanctioning the hoarding, on his own, without approval of the DGP office and in respect of the misuse of powers by allowing massive hoarding size of 120×140 ft deviating from the approved norms as pointed out in the DGP report. It is necessary and desirable to place Khalid under suspension in accordance with provisions of Rule 3 (1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969,” said the order issued by Venkatesh Bhat, joint secretary.
GRP, in a report to the state home department after the hoarding crash had mentioned about the lapses on Khalid’s part, sources said. “The conduct of BMC, Khalid and Ego Media was questionable,” an officer said.
DGP Rashmi Shukla had issued a show-cause notice to Khalid asking him to explain why he allowed the hoarding without an approval from her office.
Khalid was transferred to Protection of Civil Rights on Dec 16, 2022 (Friday), however, he signed the papers granting approval for the hoarding on Dec 18 (Sunday) and put up the noting on Monday, when he handed over the charge of GRP commissioner to Ravindra Shishve.
Usually, once a transfer order is issued, an officer is not supposed to take any major decision especially that has monetary implications. Khalid will also have to explain why he allowed the oversize of the hoarding, when BMC had given permission only for 80x 80ft.
Khalid also illegally altered the hoarding contract from 10 years to 30 years to Ego Media. He justified it saying that construction of RCC structure for the huge hoarding was very high.
An official said they are likely to record Khalid’s statement after completing all formalities.
The special investigation team (SIT), which is probing the hoarding collapse, has also found that Ego Media had sent Rs 46.6 lakhs to 10 unknown bank accounts on behest of Arshad Khan, a partner in Khalid’s wife’s company. Police have not yet found her involvement in the case.
Police have already arrested Ego Media director Bhavesh Bhinde, former director Janhvi Marathe, structural engineer Manoj Sanghu and civil contractor Sagar Kumbhar in the hoarding collapse case.
Earlier, Khalid had told TOI that the records will speak for themselves and claimed that he is being unfairly targeted. He clarified that he had only approved the change of the hoarding operator to ensure that the railway police welfare received a substantial revenue.
Khalid was the Government Railway Police (GRP) commissioner in the city when he allowed Ego Media Pvt Ltd to erect the hoarding. After the crash, he was issued a showcause notice.
Khalid was posted as additional DGP, Protection of Civil Rights, at present.“Govt has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Quaiser Khalid… in respect of administrative lapses and irregularities in sanctioning the hoarding, on his own, without approval of the DGP office and in respect of the misuse of powers by allowing massive hoarding size of 120×140 ft deviating from the approved norms as pointed out in the DGP report. It is necessary and desirable to place Khalid under suspension in accordance with provisions of Rule 3 (1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969,” said the order issued by Venkatesh Bhat, joint secretary.
GRP, in a report to the state home department after the hoarding crash had mentioned about the lapses on Khalid’s part, sources said. “The conduct of BMC, Khalid and Ego Media was questionable,” an officer said.
DGP Rashmi Shukla had issued a show-cause notice to Khalid asking him to explain why he allowed the hoarding without an approval from her office.
Khalid was transferred to Protection of Civil Rights on Dec 16, 2022 (Friday), however, he signed the papers granting approval for the hoarding on Dec 18 (Sunday) and put up the noting on Monday, when he handed over the charge of GRP commissioner to Ravindra Shishve.
Usually, once a transfer order is issued, an officer is not supposed to take any major decision especially that has monetary implications. Khalid will also have to explain why he allowed the oversize of the hoarding, when BMC had given permission only for 80x 80ft.
Khalid also illegally altered the hoarding contract from 10 years to 30 years to Ego Media. He justified it saying that construction of RCC structure for the huge hoarding was very high.
An official said they are likely to record Khalid’s statement after completing all formalities.
The special investigation team (SIT), which is probing the hoarding collapse, has also found that Ego Media had sent Rs 46.6 lakhs to 10 unknown bank accounts on behest of Arshad Khan, a partner in Khalid’s wife’s company. Police have not yet found her involvement in the case.
Police have already arrested Ego Media director Bhavesh Bhinde, former director Janhvi Marathe, structural engineer Manoj Sanghu and civil contractor Sagar Kumbhar in the hoarding collapse case.
Earlier, Khalid had told TOI that the records will speak for themselves and claimed that he is being unfairly targeted. He clarified that he had only approved the change of the hoarding operator to ensure that the railway police welfare received a substantial revenue.