Malappuram : Manjeri Pandikad native Muhammad Ali Shihab, arrested in connection with Karipur gold robbery case, was poll in-charge for BJP national vice president AP Abdullakutty. Shihab, an active campaigner for Abdullakutty, is closely linked to gangs operating in gold robbery and havala deals.
Shibab was the main person looking after Abdullakutty’s election activities pertaining to Manjeri. He shared the dais with BJP’s national leaders at all election conventions in the district. He reportedly used BJP links to avoid getting caught in Gold robbery and havala incidents.
Shihab mostly took quotations for robbing smuggled gold and havala money. The modus operandi was to intercept gold or havala money carriers, beat them up and make off with the loot. There were two cases registered against Shihab at Koduvally police station in 2014.
Shibab is a close associate of K Sruendran and was initiated into the party by OBC Morcha state general secretary Rashminathan. BJP’s district unit had opposed Shihab’s inclusion into the election committee. However, that disagreement was ignored and the party proceeded with making Shihab the poll in-charge for Manjeri.
