Thiruvananthapuram, April 12(BPNS)

The Kerala state vigilance has seized an amount of Rs 50 lakh from the residence of Muslim League leader KM Shaji MLA ,according to information from the Vigilance sources.

The raids at the residences of Shaji at Kozhikode and Kannur commenced from 7 am on April 12 and is continuing till now. An FIR has been registered against the MLA following the intervention of the Kozhikode Vigilance court on a petition filed by Advocate MR Ratheesh against Shaji for having garnered wealth above his known sources of income.

The petitioner alleged that Shaji’s wealth increased by 166 % from the period between 2011 and 2021, the period when Shaji is an MLA. KM Shaji has contested the 6 April, 2021 assembly elections from his sitting seat Azheecode against the CPM leader MP Sumesh.

A heavy police contingent is deployed in front of the residence of KM Shaji at Kozhikode where he is with his family. There are reports that Shaji may be arrested if he is not able to corroborate the source of the amount which was seized from his Azheecode residence.

Police sources while speaking to BPNS said, “The police contingent is deployed owing to the possibility of Muslim League workers reaching the spot creating a law and order situation and we have taken the necessary precautions.”

The Enforcement Directorate had also interrogated Shaji on a case pertaining to him having accepted money to the tune of Rs 25 lakhs for a high school teacher post in an aided school at Azheecode constituency.