Hoarding crash accused paid Rs 46L to firm of IPS officer's wife: Somaiya

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday alleged that ad firm director Bhavesh Bhinde had paid Rs 46 lakh as bribe to a company of the wife of then Government Railway Police commissioner, who gave permission to install a hoarding which collapsed in Mumbai last month.

Somaiya in a series of posts on X also claimed that Rs 5 crore was paid by Ego Media Pvt Ltd (where Bhinde was the director) to various railway police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials for "two dozen illegal hoardings" in Ghatkopar and Dadar areas of Mumbai.

The former BJP MP said he had written a letter to Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting him to suspend then Government Railway Police commissioner Quaiser Khalid for "Ghatkopar Hoardings Scam BRIBE".

A giant hoarding collapsed in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on May 13 during gusty winds and unseasonal rains, killing 17 persons and injured more than 70 others, according to police.

The land in question was in possession of the Government Railway Police and permission to erect the hoarding near a petrol pump was given to M/s Ego Media Pvt Ltd for 10 years with the approval of then-GRP commissioner Quaiser Khalid, a senior official earlier said.

A Special Investigation Team had been formed to conduct a probe into the hoarding collapse incident.

"Ghatkopar Hoardings Tragedy. Proof & Bank Entries of Rs 46 lacs Bribes detected by Police SIT. Bhavesh Bhinde paid Rs 46 lacs to Kaiser Khalid (Railway Police Commissioner) via Mohammad Arshad Khan. Mohammad Arshad Khan deposited this Rs 46 lacs in Mahapatra Garments Pvt Ltd," Somaiya claimed in a post on X on Sunday.

He said Mahapara Garments Pvt Ltd was incorporated/formed on June 20, 2022 by Summana Quaiser Khalid, the wife of Quaiser Khalid, and Mohd Arshad K Khan.

"Bhavesh Bhinde of EGO Media Pvt Ltd transferred Rs 46 lakhs to this company during the year 2022/23," Somaiya alleged.

Till now, five persons have been arrested in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding tragedy, he said.

"Expecting action against Railway Police & BMC Officials," the BJP leader added.