Raids were conducted at houses belonging to Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Azhikode MLA, KM Shaji, in Kannur and Kozhikode. The raids were executed in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered against the MLA by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB).
The raids began early Monday morning and were conducted on his two houses simultaneously. The houses in Azhikode and Kozhikode are reportedly registered under the name of the MLA’s wife, Asha.
Last month, a preliminary report filed after a Vigilance probe stated that Shaji had accumulated assets disproportionate to his income between 2011 and 2020. The report also said that his income had increased by 166% over these years.
Officials are looking into the source of the money that went into the construction of the MLA’s palatial residences in the two districts. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted its own investigations into the MLA’s source of funds in this regard.
These investigations took off following a complaint lodged by Kannur Block Panchayat President Padmanabhan, who alleged that KM Shaji took ₹25 lakh in bribe to give official sanction for upgrading a Primary school in his constituency to a Higher Secondary one. It is also alleged that Shaji took ₹25 lakh as bribe for allotting a seat for a Plus 2 student at an Azhikode school in Kannur.
KM Shaji has been sitting MLA of Azhikode since 2011, winning both 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls from the seat.
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