Hoarding collapse: Khan used 50 SIMs, many mobiles to evade arrest

Arshad Khan, the purported business partner of the wife of suspended additional director-general of police, Quaiser Khalid, used over 50 SIM cards and multiple mobile handsets to evade arrest in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case for nearly seven months, said police.

- Manish Kumar Pathak

MUMBAI: He also changed his location frequently, visiting Hyderabad, Lucknow and other cities across the country without leaving behind any technical leads which would give his location away.

"This forced us to rely on human intelligence and instincts," said a police officer. The businessman was eventually nabbed on Monday from Lucknow following a tip-off and remanded in 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. Ego Media issued several blank cheques to Khan in 2021 and 2022 after Khalid, then Railway Police Commissioner, gave approval for the company's hoardings along the Eastern Express Highway, alleged police.