Graft in Chander Kunj Army Towers construction: Plea in HC seeks CBI probe

Kochi: An appeal has been filed before high court seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged corruption behind the dilapidated condition of Towers B and C of the Chander Kunj Army Towers at Silver Sand Island, Vyttila.A bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V Menon admitted the appeal filed by Ciby George, an occupant of the residential towers, and issued notices to the central govt, National Disaster Management Authority, Central Bureau of Investigation and other respondents, including the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO). The court adjourned the matter for Aug 25.Earlier, on Feb 3, a single bench had directed the demolition and reconstruction of the towers after finding them unsafe. The district collector has since formulated a time-bound plan for each phase of the demolition and reconstruction process, with completion targeted for Oct 2029.Meanwhile, George approached HC seeking a CBI probe into the alleged corruption behind the structural damage, invoking Sections 60, 71, and 72 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. However, the single bench declined the request, observing that it was not a fit case for exercising discretionary jurisdiction to direct the CBI to register an FIR. Following this, George filed the present appeal seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR and to initiate and complete the investigation within a stipulated timeframe — ideally before the demolition contract is awarded.