Ghatkopar hoarding case: Mumbai Police probes ‘potential criminal misconduct’ charges against suspended IPS officer

Sources said a few months ago, the ACB wrote back to Mumbai Police saying that since they have probed the original case, they would be in a better position to probe the criminal misconduct aspect as well. So far, the crime branch has arrested five people and filed a chargesheet against them. Khalid was suspended in the aftermath of the collapse.

An official said, “As per the ACB letter, the crime branch added sections of the Prevention Of Corruption Act (PCA) in the FIR recently and are investigating whether there is evidence to prove criminal misconduct or corruption charges against Khalid. Depending on what comes forth in the FIR, the appropriate decision will be taken at the chargesheet stage.”

The initial report submitted by the Mumbai crime branch to the ACB alleged that Khalid’s actions led to losses to the state exchequer and may constitute offenses under the PCA. While the crime branch has not yet directly linked Khalid to a financial trail, the chargesheet notes that Arshad Khan, an accused in the case, took Rs 84 lakh from Bhavesh Bhinde, the owner of the illegal hoarding that collapsed. Khan was also a partner in a company where Khalid’s wife was a partner. Khan told police that he provided services to Bhinde and was paid for them.

According to the crime branch, Khan had received cheques from Bhinde, which were then deposited into various bank accounts before being converted into cash. So far, the crime branch has officially not clarified what happened to the cash handed over to Arshad. Soon after the case came to light, the state government suspended Khalid who has not yet been reinstated.