THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P V Anwar MLA has received a major setback from the high court in a money fraud case in which he allegedly cheated Rs 50 lakh out of an NRI Malayali after promising to make him a partner in his business unit.

The review petition filed by Anwar against the high court order that the Crime Branch should probe the case was rejected by the court. The review petition was rejected by the court, saying that there was nothing in the argument that prevented investigation into the case.

The case refers to the offence that the MLA cheated Malappuram native and NRI Salim Naduthodi out of Rs 50 lakh over a crusher unit deal.
Slaim’s complaint was that Anwar cheated him by offering him a share in his crusher unit in Karnataka.

It was in 2012 that Anwar allegedly duped NRI businessman Saleem. After claiming that he owned a crusher unit, Anwar offered him a 10 per cent share, for which Naduthodi gave him Rs 50 lakh.

When he failed to get any returns, Naduthodi sought the help of the police. Later, he approached the Manjeri Chief Judicial Magistrate saying that the police were reluctant to take action against the MLA. The court asked the police to conduct an investigation and ensure proper action. He had also approached CPM leaders, including Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, seeking steps to get back his money.

The police later found that there was no such crusher unit in Balthangady. Where Anwar said there was 22 arcres plot, he possessed only one acre 87 cents.