Builder Among 3 Arrested for Violating Coastal Regulation Zone Norms in Maradu Apartment Complexes

Thiruvananthapuram: The crime branch of the Kochi police on Tuesday arrested three people, including a builder of the Holy Faith apartment complex at Maradu, which was ordered to be demolished by the Supreme Court for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms.

This is the first arrest in the case and the police said more arrests are likely to be made in the coming days. Two former Maradu panchayat officials were also among the arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in construction of the four Maradu apartment complexes.

The three arrested have been identified as Sanny Francis, Managing Director of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Ltd; Mohammed Ashraf, former Maradu panchayat secretary and P Joseph, Junior Superintendent.

They have been booked under sections 120(B) criminal conspiracy, 34 (common intention), 420 (cheating) of the IPC and for criminal misconduct by public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The arrests were made on the basis of strong evidence against them, a senior police official said.

The government had handed over the case to the crime branch from local police, which had earlier registered an FIR against three builders.

The Supreme Court had on September 27 directed demolition of the flats, built on the coastal zone of Kochi's Maradu panchayat, within 138 days in accordance with the time schedule provided by the Kerala government.

It had also ordered the government to pay Rs 25 lakh as interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks.

The top court had also directed freezing of assets of builders and promoters involved in the construction of the illegal buildings.

Earlier this month, the Crime Branch had carried out a search and seizure operation in Maradu municipality and seized hundreds of documents related to the apartments concerned.

The investigating team had later conducted a similar operation at the offices of Holy Faith Builders and Developers, builders of H2O Holy Faith Apartments, and Alfa Ventures and Jain Housing and Construction Ltd, builders of Alfa Serene and Jain Coral Cove apartments.