What is the reality behind the Ghatkopar Hoarding Tragedy?
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts Exclusive
The clerk tampered with the documents on the instructions of the Railway Police Commissioner of Mumbai Ravindra Shisve. On that basis, ‘Ego Media’ was permitted to erect hoarding illegally by the Commissionerate, and the ‘Sprouts’ team has got the shocking information.
A giant hoarding illegally erected near the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar in Mumbai collapsed on May 13. 17 people died in this accident and over 80 were injured. After this incident, the Mumbai Crime Branch immediately started an investigation through a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Exciting information has come to the hands of ‘Sprouts’ from the charge sheet they filed and important documents obtained from the Right to Information.
On November 2, 2020, the then Commissioner of Police (GRP, Mumbai) Ravindra Sengaonkar signed an agreement (MOU) with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL Ltd.).
According to this agreement, the petrol pump was started. The map in the agreement also included the hoarding that fell on May 13. Then on 16 February 2021, Quaiser Khalid took charge of the post of Commissioner of Police, Railways. He was then transferred on 19 December 2022.
During this period, Quaiser sought a legal opinion for the applicability of BMC taxation on the permission hoardings which were earlier approved by his predecessor Sengaonkar.
Two reputed legal advisors including one retired judge of Mumbai High Court gave their opinion and they were also paid for this by the Railway Police (GRP). But in the meantime, Quaiser was transferred. Overall, no strategic decision was taken by them regarding ‘this’ hoarding.
Tampering with Papers
After the transfer of Khalid Quaiser, Ravindra Shisve (IPS) immediately took charge as GRP Commissioner. Afterward, the clerk under his hand tampered with the outgoing registrar, noting dates on the file and other important documents in connivance with Ego Media director Jhanavi Marathe. Illegally tampering with documents in such a manner is a serious crime.
Based on these tampered documents, Shisve’s clerk wrote a new letter to Ego Media on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, GRP. It was signed by this clerk and issued on 26/12/24 when Shisve was the police commissioner of the railway police. As per the rules, all important letters must be signed by the Commissioner of Police or the Assistant Commissioner of Police with the approval of the Commissioner.
The clerk does not have this right. This being a policy matter had to be issued by the commissioner. However, the rules were flouted and a letter of permission was issued to Ego Media Ltd., the company of rape accused Bhavesh Bhinde.
Also Read: Government Favoring Adani! Now Preparing to Give Land of Aksa Village.
How does Shisve support Bhavesh Bhinde?
* Just two days after Shisve’s appointment i.e. on 21 December 2022, BPCL Ltd. wrote a letter to GRP Commissionerate. In this letter BPCL took strong objection to ‘Ego Media’ starting massive digging pits to erect hoardings, requesting the commissioner for the stoppage of the same immediately. But Shisve has not taken any action.
* On 14 January 2023, BPCL again wrote another objection letter. It is mentioned in this letter that the foundation work of this hoarding has been completed since the writing of the first letter but Shisve has not given any order on that either, thereby helping Ego Media to construct the illegal hoarding.
* On February 1, 2023, Shisve called a meeting. It was decided in this meeting that this land belongs to Railway GRP. So Shisve will put up a hoarding on it. Not only this, BPCL was told that they have no authority in this regard to take any objection to the decisions of Shisve.
* On February 7, 2022, Shisve wrote a letter to the Director General of Police (DGP). In this letter, it was written that the land near the petrol pump is vacant, and permission should be given to erect 33,800 feet of hoarding there, thereby hiding the fact that the construction of the illegal hoarding was already going on.
* There was no reply of any kind from the DGP to this letter, but Shisve immediately (within only 10 days of writing the letter) started charging Rs.11 lakh 71 thousand 633 per month for illegal hoarding.
* On April 21, 2023, Shisve again sought permission from the state’s Director General of Police to erect 33,800 square feet of billboards. On this, the Director General called for a show cause notice. On this, Shisve disclosed that this plot is commercial, so permission has not been given. But on the other hand, Shisve continued to take the billboard rent.
Complaints of residents too, silent silence
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, local corporator Rupali Awale, Milind Prakash Raigaonkar, Salim Maqbul Pathan and many other residents and some NGOs had written complaints about this illegal hoarding. Some of the complainants even reminded the hoardings in Pune and the residents who lost their lives through these letters. But Shisve showed these letters quite a basket of rubbish.
A basket of waste to the order of the Municipal Corporation
On April 30, 2024, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sent an urgent letter, ordering the immediate removal of the illegal hoarding by Ego Media. Meanwhile, on 3rd May 2024, Kirit Somaiya also applied to remove this illegal hoarding. But all these orders, requests, and applications were shown a basket of dirt by Shisve.
The economics behind Illegal Hoarding
The rent of these illegal hoardings was 11 lakh 71 thousand 633 rupees per month, but crores of rupees were exchanged under the table. Not only this, but the sources of ‘Sprouts’ have also predicted the possibility of the financial relationship between Bhavesh Bhinde and Ravindra Shisve. Hope the crime branch will reveal the truth soon.
Also Read: The Rise and Fall of Rashid Naseem: A Tale of India’s Biggest Land Scam.
Shisve has a lot to explain
* Kirit Somaiya who was previously complaining about Shisve everywhere for the construction of the illegal hoarding and on whose complaint BMC directed Shisve to pull down the hoarding had not taken his name even once after the collapse of the hoarding.
* Ravindra Shisve has a lot to explain about his role of commissions and omissions in helping Ego Media to grow and prosper at the cost of 17 human lives. He has been hiding in the shadow of lies till now. But justice is catching up.
Unmesh Gujarathi
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