The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for an investigation into allegations that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) allocated land under the “Binveriya” housing scheme to ineligible individuals, including relatives of its managing director.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the MDP expressed concern over claims that HDC falsified documents to facilitate the distribution of land worth MVR 450 million to individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria. The party alleged this was evidence of corruption and accused the government of encouraging such practices by failing to take action against those responsible.

The MDP specifically called for the removal of HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed. The statement also demanded severe punishment for all involved in the fraudulent transactions and urged the government to reclaim the land plots and allocate them to rightful recipients.

The party also criticised investigative agencies, saying they have failed to act against corruption cases involving state-owned companies.

The allegations have led to a broader investigation involving both the Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Police reportedly entered HDC offices under a court order, but critics have raised concerns that the focus might shift to identifying whistleblowers rather than addressing the allegations.

The controversy surfaced on Wednesday, with leaked documents shared by the pseudonymous X account @HKurusee suggesting that fraudulent land allocations were made to approximately 50 individuals, including Fazul’s brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed. Fazeel, who serves as deputy managing director of the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), allegedly received land despite being ineligible.

Further allegations implicate Fazul in facilitating preferential instalment-based land purchases for his wife, bypassing traditional financing routes.

Neither HDC nor the Maldives Police Service has issued an official response to the allegations or the MDP’s calls for action.