Muslim League MLA ,K. M. Shaji, confronted 30 hours of ED interrogation so far in connection with in plus-two bribery and tax evasion cases against him. However, the rendezvous is far from over. ED sleuths informed that, post their scrutinizing the testimonies obtained from him and wife, the MLA would be summoned for further sessions.
ED probe is based on a complaint accusing Shaji of accepting Rs 25 lakh in bribes for facilitating upgradation of Azikode Secondary School to Higher Secondary. On Wednesday, they began questioning the MLA at 10.30 morning for hours lasting up to 12 am midnight. Considering the long period, the officials had, in between, suggested putting off the interview to another day. Shaji however insisted to be done with it, possibly on calculation that media coverage would be scanty if not none, given that it was Bihar election day.
But that was not to happen. The probe team were not through despite clock touching 12 am on Tuesday and they called it a break, asking him to return Wednesday morning for continued quetioning. That session began 10 am morning on Wednesday and lasted to pre-dawn hours of Thursday.
During questioning, Shaji denied receiving 25 lakhs in bribe and said the palatial house was built on monies from his wife’s maternal home and those raised from selling their gold bonds in stock markets. Incidentally, the Corporation in its evaluation put the palatial house at cost not lesser than Rs 1.62 crore. Shaji’s wife Asha has land worth Rs 2 crore to her name. However, both she and the MLA have so far failed to cite fund sources that facilitated those purchases and ED has given the couple 10-days time to come up with legitimate records.
ED in Shaji's good books, Vigilance the villain
Despite grueling hours confronted at ED office, League leader KM Shaji is reluctant to slam Sangh Parivar. According to the MLA, the ED probe is not politically motivated and the state vigilance, government and the CPI(M) party is rather to blame for it, he says. Apparently, dubbing vigilance probe as political move and ED probe free of any such orientation, is Shaji’s hopeful strategy to break loose by soft-soaping Sangh Parivar.
