INL leader, others accused of extorting money in name of housing project; probe on

Pattikad: Police have registered a case against a senior Indian National League (INL) leader and others for allegedly embezzling money through an interest-free housing project in Thrissur. 

The case is registered against Urban-Rural Housing Development Cluster Society's chairman Jain Joseph, secretary Zeenath, and directors Shabitha, Shaik Salif, Indira Kuttappan, and INL district general secretary Bafeek Bakkar.

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Chuvannamannu native Tinto to Peechi Police, one of the ten people who lost money in the fraud. The complainant alleged that accused used the name of Minister Ahammad Devarkovil to trick the applicants from investing in the housing project. 

Tinto alleged that the accused extorted Rs 25 lakh from 10 people by assuring housing on land owned by the society. Meanwhile, others who fell victim to the scam have also filed complaints with police. The applicants filed the complaint after the project failed to make any progress for the past one and a half years. 

According to the complainant, the accused acquired the money by assuring housing on society-owned land in Poovanchira. However, when inquired at the village office, he was informed that the land was a property co-owned by three individuals. 

The accused solicited money by asserting that the applicant should bear one-fourth of the overall project cost. 

Last year, the applicants paid Rs 3.05 lakh in two instalments for the projects. However, of the ten houses, the foundation works of only two residences have been finished thus far. Meanwhile, the construction of three houses was partially completed.