Kannur: The suicide of Nigeria-returned entrepreneur Sajen Parayil after Anthoor civic body officials delayed building permit for his newly-constructed Rs 15-crore convention centre at Bakkalam in Kerala's Kannur district, is proving to be a clear case of official apathy.
The 49-year-old builder committed suicide at Kottali in Kannur district after he spent months running from pillar to post for getting the ownership certificate for the convention centre his construction company had built at Bakkalam, a 'CPM village'.
The managing director of Partha Builders, Sajen had to make 20 visits to the Anthoor municipality in Kerala's Kannur district, seeking the ownership certificate of his newly constructed building. He and his employees had to frequently visit the municipality for two months after submitting the application for the certificate on April 12.
As per the norms, the authorities have to check and issue the certificate within 15 days of submitting the application. However, Sajen was served a notice on April 30 by the municipality, 18 days after he gave in the application. The notice cited problems in the parking area. These were rectified and the plan was submitted again on May 6.
Then he was served another notice, pointing out a different problem. After he submitted the plan for a third time, he was served a notice on June 15. Sajen had informed that he would meet municipal authorities on June 18. However, fearing that he would be targeted again and more obstacles would be put up before him, Sajen took the extreme step on that fateful day.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has registered a suo motu case in the matter on the basis of media reports. The action was taken following the instruction of the Chief Justice of Kerala.
The obstinate, unreceptive attitude of the municipality which resulted in the death of the struggling builder, sends a wrong message to the investors at large. Despite allegations that the authorities intentionally delayed the issue of the ownership certificate, the authorities claim that only a procedural delay was involved in the case. The numerous delays faced by investors who shell out huge amounts of money in a project needs to be looked at, the High Court observed.
The suo motu case taken against the Anthoor Municipality Secretary, Kannur District Town Planner, and Local Bodies Secretary, will be heard on Friday.
Municipal chief blamed
Sajen's family is set to file complaint against the municipal chairperson PK Shyamala. and others to the chief minister, district police chief and the collector on Friday.
The family will submit a petition to the Chief Minister on Friday requesting him to slap charges of abetment of suicide on Shyamala. A letter will also be submitted to the CPM's district leadership for suitable action against her.
The CPM is set to examine whether the municipality's stance of denying the ownership certificate was subject to prejudice or not.
Meanwhile, the manager of Partha Convention Centre Sajeevan has come out with strong allegations against the municipal chief.
“We had to approach the party and the minister, when the municipality denied the ownership certificate. The postive report was provided after this.This incident both embarrassed and irked her,” he said.
The allegations have prompted a demand for disciplinary action against the municipal chief from the lower circles of the CPM. The matter will be discussed at the CPM's state meet on Saturday.
And the fault was…
There is no written complaint against Sajen’s building. The municipality said that they received the first complaint through an anonymous call in 2018. The municipality has been reiterating that there were faults in the construction from the very beginning. However, the district town planning department could only find one faulty slab on the ground floor during inspection.
Municipality building is faulty?
Meanwhile, Sajen's family has alleged that the Anthoor municipality's building was constructed violating the rules. Buildings have to keep a distance of three metres from the road. However, the roof of the municipality’s building extends up to the road, it was pointed out. "There should be a stipulated space between two buildings. However, the municipality office and the nearby Krishi Bhavan building do not even have 0.5 metres of space between them," Sajen's family alleged. The Anthoor municipality is located along the Kannur-Taliparamba stretch of the National Highway. The municipality was formed four years ago after the Taliparamba municipality was split.
CPM stage on government land?
More building violations were spotted at Bakkalam area in Anthoor where Sajen’s building is located. The stage of Che Guvera Arts and Sports Club building is alleged to be built on government's unoccupied land (purambokku). The club belongs to the CPM Bakkalam north branch committee. The stage was built on a road that was used for transportation before the National Highway was opened for public. Ironically, the sheet for the club's roof was donated by Sajen.
CPM supporter, CPM-ruled municipality, still...
Allegations are rife that Sajen was targeted over a power tussle within the CPM. Questions are being raised how a CPM supporter who had close links with former district party chief P Jayarajan was denied permits by the officials at the CPM-ruled municipality. When Sajen did not get the documents, Jayarajan had intervened in the issue, irking municipal chairperson P K Shayamala. "You have hold in the higher-ups. You can get the certificate from them," she had reportedly told Sajen. She is the wife of CPM central committee member M V Govindan.
Anthoor has always been a CPM bastion. Of the 28 councillors at the municipality, 27 are CPM workers while one seat is with the CPI. Fourteen of the 28 councillors were elected unanimously without a contest in last election. Even the opposition UDF in the state do not field a candidate in several wards - a feature unique to Anthoor.
Meanwhile, CPM state committee member P Jayarajan, Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan and former MP P K Sreemathy visited Sajen's house and offered all assistance to the family in their legal battle.
The leaders' visit comes even as the party is at the receiving end of public ire over the businessman’s suicide. P K Sreemathi, who reached first, held talks with the family members for an hour behind closed doors. P Jayarajan and M V Jayarajan too followed. M V Jayarajan informed about the suspension of municipal officers to the family members and then to the reporters.
