ARSHAD KHAN, the fifth accused against whom the Mumbai crime branch filed a chargesheet last month for his alleged involvement in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, has filed for bail before the Bombay High Court. In his plea, Khan argued that while the investigation alleges that his role was to collude with the Government Railway Police (GRP) Commissioner to get permission for the hoarding, none of the GRP commissioners have been made accused in the case. "This itself shows the investigation is biased and baseless,” the bail plea filed through lawyer Sana Raees Khan read. The plea further mentions that the other four accused in the case, including the owners of the hoarding, have been granted bail and hence on parity, he be granted bail. "The applicant states that the role of the applicant is on far better footing than any of the four co-accused," the plea reads. On May 13 last year, the hoarding collapsed at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar, killing 17 people and injuring several others. The police alleged in the chargesheet that Arshad Khan received Rs 84 lakhs from Ego Media, the company whose hoarding collapsed, and deposited it in the accounts of several persons not connected to the hoarding. Police suspect that the money were kickbacks that were paid via Khan to senior railway officers in return for getting permission for the hoarding.
