The special investigation team of the Crime Branch probing the case of the illegal construction of apartment complexes in Maradu has started the procedure to freeze the bank accounts of three builders for constructing the apartments in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms.
The bank accounts of Sandeep Mehta, the managing director of Jain Housing and Construction Ltd, that constructed Jains Coral Cove; Paul Raj, the managing director of Alfa Ventures Private Ltd which built the twin towers of Alfa Serene apartments; and Sany Francis, the MD of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd that built H20 Holy Faith apartment, will be frozen.
"We have directed that the personal bank accounts of these managing directors as well as their company accounts be frozen," an official of the investigating team told TNM.
The official also added they are also checking if a suo motu case can be taken up against builder of Golden Kayaloram, who has not been booked yet.
“No resident who lived there has lodged a complaint against the builder, unlike the other three apartments. We are checking the provisions to file a suo motu case against the builder of Golden Kayaloram apartment based on the SC order,” stated the official.
He also added that there will be more arrests in the case in the coming days. The probe into the illegal construction of the buildings is being led by Crime Branch ADGP Tomin J Thachankary.
On Tuesday, Sany Francis, the MD of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd, was arrested, along with two former officials of the Maradu panchayat (now municipality). Mohammed Ashraf, the then panchayat Secretary; PE Joseph and former Junior Superintendent of Maradu panchayat, are the officials who were arrested.
The Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court on Wednesday remanded the three arrested persons to judicial custody till October 19. The bail petitions of the three will be considered on the same day.
The Supreme Court had on May 8, 2019, ordered that the four apartment buildings — Jains Coral Cove, Alfa Serene, H20 Holy Faith and Golden Kayaloram — be demolished.
Meanwhile, the residents living in the neighbourhood of the four buildings met municipality officials and expressed their displeasure over Sub-Collector Snehil Kumar Singh – who has been given the charge of Municipal Secretary – not addressing their concerns directly.
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