Kochi: The three accused in a case over financial irregularities in the building of Palarivattom flyover were granted bail by the Kerala High Court on Monday.
T O Sooraj, former secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD), Sumit Goel, MD of RDS Projects Ltd which constructed the flyover, and M T Thankachan, former additional general manager of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Limited (RBDCK) were the ones given bail with strict conditions.
The court reasoned that it was not necessary to keep the three in police custody for questioning any longer. While taking the decision, it also took into account that they had been in remand for the last two months. The court also pointed out that even the prosecution was silent on the bail plea despite serious allegations against the accused.
The accused were asked to submit Rs 2 lakh in bond and for the same amount and two personal sureties. They have been asked to cooperate with the investigating officials, whose permission they are to seek when leaving town. Their passbook, passport and other documents have been seized by the investigating officials as well.
The court has also warned them against influencing the witnesses to change their testimonies.
Benny Paul, joint general manager of KITCO, was granted bail earlier.
The four were arrested on August 30 by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau after a probe found irregularities in the construction of the flyover at Palarivattom. Within just two-and-a-half-years of operation, the 750-metre-long bridge, built at a cost of Rs 42 crore, began to develop faults and cracks.
A team from the IIT Madras had found several cracks in the girders and pillars. It was also found that these cracks were expanding.
The flyover was closed for traffic on May 1.
The Vigilance report pointed out that the flaws were the result of sub-standard construction and negligent supervision. Though reconstruction work has begun, spearheaded by 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan himself, it is doubted whether this will be enough to rectify the severe flaws of the bridge.
A report submitted by Vigilance Ernakulam unit DySP R Ashok Kumar had earlier stated that the flyover was in danger and that the option of reconstruction should be considered. The report made it clear that even if the maintenance works under the supervision of the IIT experts are over, the bridge should be rebuilt if it was found to pose a threat to the safety of human lives.
The report also recommended that RDS Projects Ltd should fund the expenses of the new bridge.