Billboard tragedy: IPS officer suspended for irregularities | News from India

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday suspended IPS officer Quaiser Khalid for alleged irregularities in the approval of the billboard that collapsed in Ghatkopar on May 13, leaving 17 people dead and over 70 others injured.

Khalid was the Commissioner of Government Railway Police (GRP) in the city when he allowed Ego Media Pvt Ltd to put up the billboard. After the accident, he received a summons.

Khalid has currently been posted as Additional DGP to protect citizens’ rights. “The Government has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Quaiser Khalid… for administrative lapses and irregularities in approving the hoarding by himself, without approval from the DGP’s office and for misuse of power by approving a hoarding of 120×140 feet in size, which is different from the approved norms, as pointed out in the DGP’s report. It is necessary and desirable to suspend Khalid under the provisions of Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969,” said the order issued by Venkatesh Bhat, deputy secretary.

According to sources, GRP had mentioned Khalid’s failings in a report to the state home department after the hoarding incident. “The conduct of BMC, Khalid and Ego Media was questionable,” an official said.

DGP Rashmi Shukla had sent Khalid a summons, asking him to explain why he had allowed the hoarding without the approval of her office.

Khalid was transferred to protect civil rights on December 16, 2022 (Friday) but signed the papers giving permission for the billboard on December 18 (Sunday) and affixed the note on Monday while handing over the charge of GRP Commissioner to Ravindra Shishve.

Normally, after a transfer order is issued, an officer is not allowed to take any important decisions, especially those that have financial implications. Khalid will also have to explain why he allowed the oversized billboard when BMC had only given permission for 80 x 80 feet.

Khalid also illegally changed the contract with Ego Media from 10 to 30 years, citing the high cost of building the RCC structure for the giant billboard.

An official said they would probably record Khalid’s statement after all formalities were completed.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the hoarding collapse has also found that Ego Media transferred Rs 466,000 to 10 unknown bank accounts on behalf of Arshad Khan, a partner in Khalid’s wife’s firm. Police have not yet ascertained their involvement in the case.

Police have already arrested Ego Media director Bhavesh Bhinde, former director Janhvi Marathe, civil engineer Manoj Sanghu and contractor Sagar Kumbhar in the construction fence collapse case.

Earlier, Khalid had told TOI that the records speak for themselves and claimed that he was being unfairly attacked. He clarified that he had approved the change of hoarding operator only to ensure that the railway police earned substantial revenue.