Mumbai: Suspended IPS Officer Qaiser Khalid Investigated for Alleged Corruption in Ghatkopar Hoarding Collapse

Mumbai, 31st January 2025: The Mumbai Police crime branch, investigating the tragic May 2024 Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that resulted in 17 deaths, has submitted a report to the Maharashtra home department. The report alleges potential criminal misconduct by suspended IPS officer Qaiser Khalid, claiming that his actions led to financial losses to the state and could fall under offences outlined in the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

The crime branch has recommended transferring the investigation to the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which specializes in cases involving corruption. To date, the crime branch has arrested five individuals and charged four in connection with the collapse.

An official involved in the investigation revealed that although the land where the hoarding was erected belonged to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Khalid, who was serving as the Government Railway Police (GRP) Commissioner at the time, allegedly instructed a law officer to modify his report to falsely indicate that the land belonged to the Railways. This action is said to have resulted in financial losses to the state. Furthermore, the Crime Branch discovered that the tendering process for the hoarding violated government regulations.

The report cites Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which addresses misconduct by public servants. This section allows charges if a public servant fraudulently misappropriates property entrusted to them or illicitly enriches themselves while in office.

While the Crime Branch has not yet directly linked Khalid to financial misappropriation, the chargesheet reveals that Arshad Khan, one of the accused, received ₹84 lakh from Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of the illegal hoarding that collapsed. Khan was also involved in a company where Khalid’s wife was a partner. Khan told the police he provided services to Bhinde for which he was paid.

The Crime Branch found that Khan deposited cheques from Bhinde into multiple bank accounts, which were subsequently converted into cash. However, the Crime Branch has not yet clarified what happened to the cash handed over to Khan.

Sources indicated that a decision on the report would be made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, or the additional chief secretary (home). An official explained that approval from the state government under Section 17(A) of the PCA is necessary before proceeding with a probe into a government official.

“Once the government approves, the case can be transferred to the ACB, which may either initiate an inquiry or file charges against Khalid,” the source said.

Following the collapse, the Maharashtra government suspended IPS officer Khalid, and he has not been reinstated. Additionally, the government has formed a judicial commission to investigate the violations surrounding the collapse.

In a related development, Khalid was summoned by the ACB on Wednesday in connection with a complaint from a person who alleged that they had sponsored the officer’s hotel stay in the US in exchange for a hoarding contract in Dadar. The ACB initiated an investigation into the officer in July of the previous year. Khalid sought more time and did not appear before the agency.