Kochi Army Towers' certificates forged, says police; Crime Branch likely to take over probe

Kochi: The Crime Branch of the Kerala Police is likely to take over the investigation into alleged irregularities in the construction of the Chander Kunj Army Towers at Silversand Island in Vyttila, Kochi. Two of the three residential towers in the complex, constructed for retired and serving army personnel, are set to be demolished and reconstructed based on a February 3 order of the Kerala High Court.

The Maradu police informed the District Judicial First Class Magistrate Court VIII of the move to hand over the criminal investigation into the alleged corruption behind the construction in response to a complaint filed by Col (retd) Ciby George, a flat owner who has been demanding that those responsible for the poor quality construction be brought before the law. The police informed the local court that three cases have been registered in connection with the allegations and one of them, filed by the residents’ association secretary on behalf of all the residents, was serious and required to be investigated by a special wing of the police. 

The cases have been registered under Section 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), Section 406 (dishonest misappropriation of entrusted property), and Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Maradu police told the court that the case diary has been submitted to the senior officials, and procedures for handing over the probe to the Crime Branch are underway. The police report states that it must be determined how the Army Welfare Housing Organisation, which built the residential towers, spent the ₹130 crore it collected from the 208 families that bought the apartments in the B and C towers of the complex.

“After obtaining the amount from the families, they were handed over uninhabitable buildings. The accused have also committed cheating and breach of trust by forging the necessary certificates as per preliminary investigation,” the police report states. The report also states that prima facie unauthorised alterations were made to the plan for the structures, and construction was carried out using substandard materials. It has also cited the expert reports, including the one from IISc Bangalore, which had flagged severe distress in the structures.

Though the police informed the court that a new case was unnecessary based on Col Ciby George’s complaint, the court ordered the cops to register an additional FIR. Ciby George had earlier moved the High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the corruption behind the construction. The HC, however, declined to order the same.

The officer told Onmanorama that the court order and the police report have vindicated his demand for a CBI probe. He said he was planning to file an appeal challenging the order, which declined to order a CBI investigation. The latest round of litigation comes even as a panel headed by the district collector is finalising the steps to demolish and reconstruct the buildings. 

Ciby George told Onmanorama that he would not vacate his flat until the site inspection as part of the criminal investigation is completed.