Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) office here in the city on Tuesday when the police arrested residents of Lodha Meridian apartment after they came to stage a "silent protest" demanding action against the builder.

About 100 families of Lodha Meridian gathered at the GHMC office to meet GHMC Commissioner to lodge a complaint with him against the Lodha builder. They demanded that the wall constructed between Lodha Bellezza and Lodha Meridian be demolished giving way to the residents.

Within minutes, the police arrested the protestors and bundled them into a police van, shifted them to police station. Children, women, senior citizens were among the protestors.

The Lodha construction group is in the eye of the storm after noted Tollywood actor Jagapathi Babu had come before the media protesting not to demolish the wall between both the apartments in August. Jagapathi Babu, who is a resident of Lodha Bellezza apartment at KPHB, also alleged that the builder had cheated the residents after they were promised by the builder that security and luxary living would provided to them during the time of purchase.

The construction company — Lodha had initially obtained permission for the construction of single venture at Kukatpally Housing Board. It had planned to construct luxary villas. However, learning that the venture was not profitable, the builders changed the layout into two and constructed Lodha Bellezza and Lodha Meridian.

Despite having no permission from the GHMC, the builder constructed a wall between the two apartments, this sparked a row between the two occupants of the apartments.

Flats in Bellezza were sold for Rs 4,700 to Rs 6,500 per sft. by providing amenities like club house and swimming pool. In Lodha Meridian, flats were sold for Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,600 per sft.

While Bellezza residents were provided with 80 percent of greenery (parks), the Meridian occupants were deprived of lung space with just one per cent greenery.

The Lodha group is also facing allegations from the residents that the GHMC officials are being managed with money to hush up the issue.