Kochi: CB raids head office of Jain Housing

KOCHI: The Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch (CB) probing the alleged illegal appropriation of lakeside government land to build apartments in Maradu in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms conducted raids at the Chennai office of one of the accused builder of the Maradu apartments on Friday. The special team of the CB conducted raids at the head office of Jain Housing and Construction Limited in Chennai on Friday afternoon. It is learnt that the sleuths have seized several documents from the office. 

The move was initiated after Sandeep Mehta, the Managing Director of Jain Housing and Construction did not turn up for the  interrogation following notice was served to him for appearing at the Crime Branch office on Monday. .

Meanwhile, the CB team are on the search for the then UD Clerk of Maradu panchayat when the permit for the construction of apartment complexes were granted in CRZ violations. He is reportedly the fourth accused in the remand report submitted by CB. The CB had earlier arrested Sani Francis, director of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Pvt Limited, and Mohammed Ashraf and P.E. Joseph, who were the secretary and the junior superintendent respectively of the then Maradu panchayat during the time when permits were granted for the illegal constructions.

According to sources more arrests are likely in the coming days.