CM orders probe into role of officials in Supertech case

After the Supreme Court upheld a Allahabad High Court decision of April 11, 2014 on the demolition of Supertech builder’s twin towers — Apex and Sion — in Sector 93A of Noida on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed a threadbare probe into the role of officers and employees of departments, including Noida Development Authority, to ascertain their criminal complicity with the construction company in bending laid down norms.

“Thousands of flat owners of Supertech Emerald Court housing projects in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) suffered because of some corrupt officials. Despite having paid the money, thousands of investors were taken for a ride by the builders between 2004 and 2012. This needs to be probed thoroughly and accountabilities ascertained,” the chief minister said.

At a high-level meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday, Yogi Adityanath said that the nexus between the officials and the builders should be exposed and erring officials and employees should be punished, if found guilty, and criminal cases should be registered against them.

Directing officials to comply with the latest order of the Supreme Court, he said that a special committee should be set up to ensure that not a single person was allowed to play with the interests of the common man.

Following the instructions of the chief minister, Noida Authority Chief Executive Officer Ritu Maheshwari set up a probe committee comprising two additional chief executive officers to investigate the planning department lapses. The team will also investigate the role of retired officials. The probe team has started auditing the documents.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the Twin Towers of Supertech and refused to interfere with the Allahabad High Court’s decision of April 11, 2014. The 40-storey towers were built by Supertech builders in connivance with NOIDA Authority officials flagrantly violating the rules.

The apex court further said that those who had taken flats in the Twin Towers be returned the amount with 12 per cent interest. The construction company was asked to bear the cost of demolition of the towers and the work was to be carried out under the supervision of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI).

In its verdict, the Allahabad High Court had directed the demolition of both buildings — Tower Apex and Tower Sion — in Sector 93A of Noida. The High Court said that the construction of two towers containing 915 flats and shops was done in connivance with corrupt NOIDA officials. The High Court also said that the NOIDA did not make any effort to comply with UP Apartment Act, 2010 in this matter which severely violated the rights of home takers.