Kochi: The Ernakulam Central Police have taken two JCB drivers into custody on Friday for demolishing the Sapphire Hotel located at Super Bazaar at Jose Junction in MG Road in Kochi.
The two JCBs they used for the demolition were also confiscated. However, police have not yet revealed details of the JCB drivers and for whom they carried out the demolition.
Employees were sleeping inside the hotel when they demolished it and they just ran out in their bid to save their lives. Hotel owner Nahas A. K. alleged that the building owner was behind it and demanded action.
The building is owned by one Kadaripillai and ten shops were functioning in the building on a rental basis. Nahas had been running the hotel since 1968.
It was a few months back that Kadaripillai handed over the land and building to KMRL for acquisition for metro works and seven out of the ten shops agreed to the handover.
The remaining three shops, including Sapphire hotel, had not yet agreed and KMRL started demolishing the seven shops.
However, on Friday, Sapphire hotel was also demolished by unknown people. KMRL in a press note denied any role in it. KMRL also termed the move illegal and unacceptable.
During demolition, workers of the hotels were inside the hotel but fled. Two workers reportedly sustained minor injuries.
