Former commissioner of the Authorities Railway Police (GRP), Quaiser Khalid, gave permission for the hoarding that collapsed on a petroleum pump in Ghatkopar on Could 13, killing 17 folks, three days after his switch order was issued, with out inviting tenders, stated an official with the Particular Investigation Group (SIT) shaped to probe the incident.
It was on December 19, 2022 — his final working day, that Khalid signed the file approving the appliance made by Ego Media Pvt Ltd, the SIT official stated. He stated that whereas Khalid’s switch order was issued on December 16, 2022, he vacated workplace on December 19, when he gave the permission.
“Officers typically take a couple of days to maneuver to the brand new posting after their switch. Nevertheless, throughout this era, they don’t seem to be alleged to take financial or coverage selections, which ought to be left for the following officer. On this case, taking a financial resolution on his final working day was not appropriate,” the officer stated.
Police sources stated that whereas permissions for 3 different hoardings on the spot got to the identical company after tendering course of, within the case of the hoarding that collapsed, even the tendering course of was not carried out. “That is in gross violation of administrative norms and propriety. We’ll report the statements of GRP officers and take a call on additional motion,” the official stated.
When contacted, Khalid declined to remark, nonetheless, a supply near him stated, “It’s true that he signed the approval after his switch order was issued and on the final day of his responsibility, however the negotiations had been on for a month. I don’t perceive what improper did he commit and which rule did he break if he signed it on the final day.”
On giving approval for the collapsed hoarding with out tendering course of, the individual stated, “Earlier, for 3 hoardings, Ego Media had emerged the winner and so for the fourth hoarding (the one which collapsed) it was determined to supply to the identical firm on the identical phrases and circumstances, with out the formal tendering course of.”
Khalid is a 1997 batch further director basic (ADG) rank officer and is presently with the Safety of Civil Rights (PCR). The promoting company proprietor, Bhavesh Bhinde, has been arrested for putting in the hoarding with out correct approvals..
The SIT had additionally written to the Indian Railways to get readability on whether or not the land belonged to them. Earlier, the accused had claimed that he didn’t take BMC permission as he was knowledgeable by GRP the land belonged to the Railways and thus was not in BMC jurisdiction.
“The Indian Railways clarified by way of a letter on Sunday that the land didn’t belong to them. This implies permission ought to have been taken from the BMC. It was not completed,” the supply stated.
The Indian Express had earlier reported that in 2023, a staff from the BMC had inspected the hoarding web site and raised objections concerning its structural stability and its dimension, which exceeded the permissible limits. The identical was communicated to Ego Media Pvt Ltd. Nevertheless, when the corporate stated that that they had the permission from GRP, the BMC raised it with the GRP.
The GRP responded to their communication saying that the BMC can’t take motion in opposition to any construction on a GRP property lined below the Railways Act. Because the matter was taken to court docket by the BMC, and was dominated in favour of Railways within the Excessive Court docket, the matter round jurisdiction, is presently within the Supreme Court docket.
The SIT is prone to summon BMC officers to seek out how such a big hoarding was allowed to return up with out them taking motion. “Relying on the statements, the SIT will determine if the civics officers too are legally culpable,” an official stated.
The SIT has additionally gone by way of the property card of the 2 plots of land the place the petrol pump stood. Whereas one plot is within the identify of the state house division, the opposite is below the identify of Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Company (MSPHC).
In August 2021, the MSPHC had written to the DGP workplace, rejecting permission for establishing a petroleum pump and hoarding because the land was meant for police housing.