In Ghatkopar, Mumbai, 17 people were killed after a huge hoarding collapsed. Consequently, the government constituted an SIT to look into the matter. The Mumbai Police are probing certain financial transactions related to the company that has been blamed for this incident.

It is learnt that in this investigation, even an associate of the IPS officer’s wife is under lens. This associate had granted permission for construction at the site without inviting tenders. During its probe, the SIT came across that Ego Media Private Limited — which owns the hoarding — had made 39 transactions transferring Rs 46.5 lakh to 10 different bank accounts between 2021 and 2022. All of it was allegedly received by one Arshad Khan.

Mumbai Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapsed

Records accessed from the Registrar of Companies revealed that Arshad Khan, associated with IPS officer Kaiser Khalid’s wife Sumana Kaiser Khalid, is a co-director at Mahpara Garments Private Limited. At that time, Kaiser Khalid was serving as Commissioner of Government Railway Police (GRP) when he allowed construction on the hoarding without inviting tenders. The records further show both were appointed directors of this company on June 28, 2022.

A few days after May 13 when the hoarding collapsed amid strong winds and rain here this year, it came to light that IPS officer Khalid had signed file approving Ego Media’s application for this hoarding on December 19, 2022 — their last working day in this position having issued their transfer orders on December 16, 2022.

Kaiser Khalid, currently Additional Director General (ADG) from the batch of1997 is now posted at Citizen Rights Protection (PCR). An Indian Express correspondent tried to contact both Khalid and Arshad Khan, but they did not respond. Khalid also denied having any contact. A close source of his denied that the officer had done anything wrong.

A close source of Khalid had said then that after earlier emerging as a successful bidder for three hoardings through Ego Media, he had decided to award the fourth hoarding to this same company without inviting tenders on the same terms and conditions. When contacted by SIT investigation overseen by Mumbai Police Crime Branch DCP Vishal Thakur, he refused to comment.

Police sources said that Ego Media sent money to accounts of persons not connected with the company on basis of which SIT reached Arshad Khan whose statement will be recorded soon. Sources said that over past few years, SIT has found 39 transactions made by Ego Media giving Rs 46.5 lakh to those who were allegedly no connection with the company.

When we questioned arrested accused directors of Ego Media Bhavesh Bhide and others, they said Arshad Khan had instructed them to issue checks without writing names of payees. Later they found that checks were deposited in nearly 10 accounts. It is learnt that after this, the account holders were contacted by SIT and it was discovered that they were not financially sound. They said Arshad Khan, who resides in Shivaji Nagar, was known to them and had asked for their bank account details so that money can be transferred there.

It was reported that in the end Arshad Khan himself withdrew the money. They gave their statements. The alleged links between Arshad Khan, Kaiser Khalid and Ego Media are now being probed by SIT, sources said. To clear up this matter, all concerned will be questioned by the team, according to sources.