Kochi: The issue of illegal apartments took an interesting turn on Tuesday with the Crime Branch of the Kerala Police arresting a builder of the soon-to-be-demolished Holy Faith H2O apartment and two former officials of the Maradu gram panchayat on corruption charges. The arrested were: Sani Francis, the owner of Holy Faith Builder and Developers, and Muhammed Ashraf and P E Joseph, former secretary and former junior superintendent of the erstwhile Maradu Panachayat when the permits were granted for the illegal structures. Maradu was upgraded as a municipality in 2010.
The accused would be charged with sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as anti-corruption law.
Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose had assured the Supreme Court that police cases would be registered against the builders found guilty.
A petition has also been filed before the Vigilance court, Muvattupuzha, seeking an investigation against officials of the Maradu Panchayat who had given the necessary clearances to build the illegal apartments. The petition points out that the Supreme Court, while ordering the demolition of the apartments at Maradu, had referred to the lapses on the part of the local body officials.
The petitioner, citing this reference of the apex court, has demanded punishment for the officials who initially gave permission for the constructions in violation of the law. The buildings set to be demolished are Golden Kayaloram, H20 Holy Fatih, Alfa Serene, and Jain Coral Cove.
The Maradu Municipality is currently preparing for the demolition of the buildings after a Supreme Court censure over the delay in executing its earlier order in this regard.
"We have arrested three people after interrogating them. More arrests will take place in the coming days. Investigation is going on. Government has given us all freedom to probe the case independently," Additional DGP Tomin J Thachankary said on Tuesday.
The accused will be produced before the Muvattupuzha vigilance court on Wednesday.
The builders have also appealed against levying money from them to give the compensation to flat owners. Flat builders Holy Faith Builders and Developers Ltd, and K P Varkey and Builders have submitted a petition in this regard to the Justice K Balakrishnan Nair committee.
As per the Supreme Court order, the compensation amount has to be levied from those who are responsible for the illegal constructions, including the builders, promoters, individuals and officials, who gave the permission.
