Money laundering: HC stays ED order attaching property of IUML leader K M Shaji’s wife

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court stayed the proceedings of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaching the property of IUML leader K M Shaji’s wife. The ED attached a house and land of Shaji’s wife Asha Shaji at Vengeri village at Kakkodi on the outskirts of Kozhikode city. The house and land worth Rs 25 lakh were attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. However, the high court has clarified in the order that the ED can proceed with the case. The court had also asked to send notice to the opposing parties.

The ED took over the investigation as per the vigilance report in the money laundering case. The complaint was that when K M Shaji was Azhikode MLA, he took a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a teacher for permanent appointment in Azhikode school. A vigilance case was registered in 2016 in this regard. The ED found that Shaji had bought a house and property in Kozhikode in the name of his wife with the money he had taken as a bribe. The property was attached as part of this.

Shaji's lawyer opposed the findings of the ED in the court. The case against the former MLA was registered in 2014.