The Maldives Police Service has stated there is no connection between last week’s fire at the Housing Ministry and allegations of irregularities in land allocation under the “Binveriya” housing scheme. The clarification was made during a press briefing held last night.
The fire, which broke out early Thursday morning, engulfed the Housing Ministry and spread to the Construction and Environment Ministries located in the adjacent Green Building. It took nearly four hours to extinguish the blaze, leaving the premises completely destroyed.
In the aftermath of the incident, rumors circulated on social media suggesting that the fire may have been deliberately set to destroy evidence related to the alleged improper allocation of land. Addressing these claims, Assistant Commissioner of Police Shareef confirmed that no evidence suggests a link between the fire and the land allocation controversy.
“All necessary information regarding the case has already been obtained, and there is no indication that HDC [Housing Development Corporation] or any other entity attempted to destroy evidence,” Shareef stated.
The Assistant Commissioner also revealed that investigations have so far identified issues with three land plots in Hulhumalé. The police are expanding their inquiry to include more individuals and determine whether additional plots or flats are involved.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is conducting a parallel investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has taken action by suspending members of HDC’s management, including Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed. All members of HDC’s board, except the newly appointed Chairperson Ahmed Nasif, have also been suspended.
The ongoing investigations have drawn significant public attention as authorities work to address concerns about the fairness and transparency of the “Binveriya” scheme. The case continues to unfold as both the police and ACC intensify their efforts to uncover any irregularities.
