Police have released the passports of nine individuals that were seized as part of the investigation into the alleged illegal allocation of land in Hulhumalé. The case involves claims of stolen plots being assigned to individuals not included in the landlord housing scheme.

The investigation began after leaked documents revealed land was allotted to Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, brother of the suspended Managing Director of HDC, Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed. Fazeel, who also served as Deputy Director at MWSC, was among the 20 individuals whose passports were initially impounded.

Authorities also confiscated the passports of four members of the flat committee responsible for identifying beneficiaries of the scheme, including its chairman, Minister of State for Planning Akram Kamaluddin, and other senior officials from the Housing Ministry.

Police, acting on the advice of Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef, have now lifted the travel bans on nine individuals. Fazeel and Fazul remain barred from travelling, and their electronic belongings, along with those of others involved, have been seized for further investigation.

Fazul resigned from his post on 22 May, shortly before police raided his residence and confiscated items linked to the case. His brother Fazeel's mobile phone was also seized under a court order.

The investigation continues as authorities review the evidence related to the alleged misuse of the landlord housing scheme.