Plus two bribery case: Govt moves SC against quashing of FIR against KM Shaji

New Delhi: Kerala Government has moved an appeal in the Supreme Court against Kerala High Court's decision to nullify an FIR registered against Muslim League leader KM Shaji in the plus two bribery case.

Back in April, a single bench of the High Court quashed the FIR registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) over a complaint alleging Shaji received a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the manager of Azhikode Higher Secondary School, Kannur, for sanctioning a higher secondary course at the school. Shaji was an MLA, part of the ruling UDF, when the alleged crime occurred.

In an appeal moved in the Supreme Court on Friday, Kerala argued that VACB filed an FIR and launched a probe on the basis of a complaint. The government also pointed out that the school manager had given a secret statement before the magistrate about paying a bribe to Shaji. 

The government also dismissed Shaji's claim that the case was politically motivated. It pointed out that the majority of witnesses were Muslim League activists or their office bearers. Earlier, the VACB raid at Shaji's house also unearthed Rs 47 lakh, which the Muslim League leader declared as election funds.