Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed has denied allegations of fraudulent land allocations under the government’s “Binveriya” housing scheme, amid mounting public pressure for accountability.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Fazul dismissed claims that HDC facilitated the illegal distribution of land, including to his brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC). “Even for my own blood, I am doing everything by the book,” Fazul said, attributing the controversy to a coincidence.
However, Fazul avoided answering several key questions about the allegations and appeared visibly agitated during the briefing. He claimed that fraudulent land registries at the centre of the scandal were not issued by HDC and insisted the corporation had acted lawfully.
The press conference began more than an hour late, with several media outlets initially barred from attending. They were later allowed in after complaints were raised. Meanwhile, chants from protestors gathered outside HDC headquarters calling for Fazul’s arrest could be heard in the conference room. The protest coincided with a growing social media campaign demanding his removal.
The scandal surfaced after leaked documents shared by the pseudonymous X account @HKurusee alleged that HDC allocated land worth MVR 450 million to approximately 50 ineligible individuals. Among them was Fazul’s brother, who had reportedly already benefited from a previous government housing scheme, rendering him ineligible for “Binveriya.”
The controversy comes amid heightened public scrutiny of HDC and government operations. Investigations have been launched by both the Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Critics, however, fear the focus may shift to identifying whistleblowers rather than addressing alleged misconduct.
Adding to suspicions, a fire last week destroyed critical documents in three key ministries, including the Ministry of Housing. The timing has raised questions about whether the incident was connected to the land allocation scandal.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for Fazul’s immediate removal and demanded severe action against those involved in the alleged fraud. In a statement, the MDP criticised investigative agencies for failing to act decisively against corruption in state-owned enterprises.