Hoarding collapse: Biz partner of suspended Addl DG's wife held

Over four months after the Esplanade metropolitan magistrate court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest, the crime branch on Monday arrested Arshad Khan, the purported business partner of the wife of additional director-general of police Quaiser Khalid, in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case.

- Manish Kumar Pathak

MUMBAI:

Police officials said that Khan was arrested in Lucknow and brought to the city. He was produced in court and remanded to police custody till January 6.

At least 17 people died and 74 were injured after a 140x120 hoarding in Ghatkopar East, erected by Ego Media, collapsed on May 14 this year during a short spell of rain coupled with gusty winds.

A police officer who was part of the probe said that Khan was hiding at the residence of an employee of a firm where he was the director. "Ever since his pre-arrest bail plea was rejected by the sessions court, he has been continuously changing his location and playing hide-and-seek with the police teams on his trail," said the officer.

Several police teams had been formed to search for Khan, and a Look-Out Circular had also been issued against him after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in August.