DCC chief files complaint over stadium renovation works

Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Muhammed Shiyas on Friday (October 31) lodged a complaint with the city police against Reporter Broadcasting Company managing director Anto Augustine and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) Chairman K. Chandran Pillai, alleging encroachment on the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor.

The complaint was filed a day after the Palarivattom police registered a case over alleged trespass on the stadium based on a petition filed by the GCDA following a visit to the stadium by a delegation led by Mr. Shiyas. The stadium has been at the centre of a political controversy over the now-cancelled international football friendly between Lionel Messi-led Argentina and Australia.

In his complaint lodged with the District Police Chief (Kochi City), Mr. Shiyas alleged that actions taken by Mr. Augustine and Mr. Pillai in the name of renovating the stadium for the match had resulted in criminal trespass, encroachment, illegal possession, alteration, and misuse of public property.

The complaint said that the possession and control of the stadium was handed over to Mr. Augustine’s firm by the GCDA in complete violation of legal and administrative procedures governing the management of public property. “There exists no Memorandum of Understanding or official document establishing any lawful relationship between the GCDA and Reporter Broadcasting Company, and the latter took illegal possession of the stadium premises and carried out extensive alterations and unauthorised works without any approval from competent authorities,” Mr. Shiyas said.

The authorities, especially Mr. Pillai, had joined hands with Mr. Augustine for carrying out illegal activities, the complaint said. Citing various allegations of financial fraud against Mr. Augustine, Mr. Shiyas said instead of addressing and investigating grave and well-documented irregularities, the police and agencies concerned appeared to have acted as a shield to protect tainted individuals.