Residents of Chander Kunj Army Towers want CBI probe into corruption behind collapsed flats | Chander Kunj Army Towers | residents | CBI probe | Vitilla | Ernakulam | Kochi

Kochi: A section of residents of Chander Kunj Army Towers (CKAT) on Vyttila’s Silversand Island, a housing complex in serious trouble due to allegations of corruption and poor construction quality, have approached the Kerala High Court seeking an investigation by a central agency. To reveal those responsible for their plight.

Major Prince Jose (ret) and Honorary Captain Erinjeri Joseph (ret), both a retired army officer and a 75 per cent disabled Kargil war veteran with units in residential towers, filed suit in the Supreme Court, citing the stay. Following previous complaints, the police launched an investigation. The petition comes at a time when the fate of the complex’s B and C towers is uncertain.

Multiple expert studies, the latest from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, have recommended demolition of the two structures. At the same time, the Ordu Social Housing Organization (AWHO), which is building the flats, is ready to strengthen the structures according to a detailed plan prepared by Bureau Veritas, a private firm. IISc reportThere are doubts about the reinforcement plan prepared based on the Supreme Court decision.

“It is clear that the entire case is the result of massive fraud and corruption and there will be no end to the investigation due to the power and influence of the defendants. Military personnel invested their lifetime savings in these apartments, hoping to have a peaceful retirement life, but all their savings were deposited in these apartments.

Dreams were shattered by the unscrupulous greed of criminals. It is an accepted principle that justice delayed is justice denied. “It is the right of the victims and the duty of the State to complete the investigation on time and bring the culprits to justice,” the petition states, requesting the court to direct an investigation to be initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or any competent central agency regarding complaints.

Maradu police registered two different FIRs in the matter in June 2022 and June 2023. The petition in the high court states that there has been no progress in the investigation. It is also stated that the police did not file an FIR in either of the two complaints filed earlier this year.

Towers B and C showed signs of poor construction quality shortly after they were handed over to their owners in 2018. There are 104 apartments in each of the two towers.

Colonel Ciby George (Retd), a resident of the ruined towers who is waging a legal battle against allegations of corruption behind the project, is one of the lawyers representing the petitioners. He also petitioned the high court for immediate evacuation of the buildings.

In his petition, the retired officer states that financially well-off residents moved to safe accommodation, while others, including himself, had to continue living in unsafe apartments. The petition requests the court to issue an urgent directive to the AWHO to vacate the unsafe premises by arranging similar alternative accommodation for the residents as already ordered by the district collector.