THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Uncertainty is looming around the construction of the Vadakkanchery Life Mission flat, which was the dream of 140 families, due to the bribery case of Swapna, the accused in the gold smuggling case, and the black money case involving M Sivasankar, former private secretary of the Chief Minister.

The construction of the flat was halted two years ago with the controversy that a bribe of Rs 4.48 crores was given to people, including Swapna, for the project. The project area is now filled with bushes and creepers. With M Sivasankar's arrest in the black money transaction related to the Life Mission contract, it is now feared that work won't resume anytime soon. It will take much longer to hand over the flats to the homeless.

The CBI was the first to start an investigation into the controversy. The CBI has taken into custody all the files, including the permit of the Life Mission building in the Vadakkencherry municipality and the records of the payment made by the municipality to KSEB for temporary electricity. The state vigilance had also started an investigation in parallel. After the expert team gave a report that the building was not facing any lack of strength, there was no hindrance to further work. Although the hospital building was almost completed, other works did not continue. Meanwhile, it was alleged that a significant loss resulted from the theft of cement, wire, etc. In September 2020, Unitac had written to Life Mission saying that it was suspending work due to the lack of communication with the UAE Consulate.