The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala has seized Rs 50 lakh from the residence of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) KM Shaji, according to IANS sources. The raids held at the residences of Shaji at Kozhikode and Kannur commenced at 7 am on Monday and continued through the night. A heavy police contingent was deployed in front of the residence of KM Shaji at Kozhikode where he stays with his family. Reports suggest that Shaji may be arrested if he is not able to corroborate the source of the money which has been seized from his residence.
Police sources while speaking to IANS said, "The police contingent is deployed owing to the possibility of Muslim League workers reaching the spot and creating a law and order situation." Meanwhile, KM Shaji has come out stating that the money was not illegal and that he has documents to prove the same. According to reports, he has cited bank holiday as the reason that he could not deposit the money in the bank.
The Enforcement Directorate had also interrogated Shaji in a case pertaining to allegedly accepting money to the tune of Rs 25 lakh for upgrading an aided school in Azhikode constituency. Earlier, a First Information Report was registered against the MLA following the intervention of a Kozhikode Vigilance court on a petition filed by Advocate MR Ratheesh against Shaji for having gathered wealth beyond his known sources of income.
The petitioner alleged that Shaji's wealth increased by 166% between 2011 and 2021, the period when Shaji was an MLA. Shaji contested the April 6, 2021 Assembly elections from his seat Azhikode against CPM leader MP Sumesh, the results of which are awaited. The VACB, which probed the case, had in March submitted a report to Vigilance court stating that ‘Shaji allegedly accumulated wealth illegally’.
Last year in September, the Kozhikode Corporation had issued a notice to KM Shaji asking to demolish his residence alleging that a building owned by him had violated rules.