The builders of Kochi’s Maradu apartments that are ordered to be demolished by the Supreme Court, who have so far remained untouched by the legal proceedings and turmoil, have now begun to feel the heat with the city police registering a case against them.
The builders of three apartment buildings – Jains Coral Cove, Alfa Serene, H2O Holy Faith — have been booked on the complaint of residents of the apartments rendering their bank accounts frozen, states a report of Deccan Chronicle. The three buildings were constructed by Jain Housing and Construction Ltd, Alfa Ventures Private Ltd and Holy Faith Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd, respectively.
As per the report, no complaint was filed by the residents of the fourth apartment building Golden Kayaloram and hence no case has been registered against its builders.
According to the report, the builders have been booked under sections 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code. A total of 50 bank accounts of the three builders have been frozen following filing of case against them.
The case against builder of H2O Holy Faith was registered by Maradu police, while Panangad police registered FIR against builders of Jains Coral Cove and Alfa Serene.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) disconnected the power supply to the four apartment buildings on Thursday morning. KSEB officials had served notice to the apartments on Wednesday on the direction of Maradu municipality that the power supply will be cut on Thursday.
Officials of the KSEB came to the apartments early on Thursday morning with police protection to cut the power supply.
According to sources in Kerala Water Authority (KWA), the water connection to these apartments has also been disconnected.
On May 8, the apex court of the country has ordered that the buildings, built violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, be demolished. The government has finally started procedures for eviction after being repeatedly criticised by the SC for not implementing the order.
1800 buildings face the threat of demolition
Following the Supreme Court direction to the state government to submit a report on the buildings constructed in violation of CRZ rules in coastal areas, the government has identified around 1,800 buildings in the state to be demolished. According to a report of Mathrubhumi, Local Self Government Secretary TK Jose has been asked by the cabinet to prepare a list of such illegal buildings in the state.
According to reports, the state government has also directed to take a criminal case against the builders of these apartments. A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday also discussed to impose fines on the builders for constructing the apartments violating the CRZ norms, says a report of The New Indian Express.
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