THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government has given the nod for Vigilance probe against Azhikode MLA K M Shaji. The probe is based on a complaint lodged by Kannur block panchayat president K Padmanabhan, alleging that Shaji took a bribe amount of Rs 25 lakh for sanctioning higher secondary section in Azhikode school in 2017.

The Vigilance had conducted a preliminary probe into this complaint earlier. It had also sought the government’s permission for further probe. Earlier also, there was an allegation that during 2012-13 period, Shaji had demanded Rs 25 lakh from local Muslim League Committee management at Puthuppara for getting higher secondary courses sanctioned.

Shaji allegedly told the management then that the amount was not required but took Rs 25 lakh for sanctioning higher secondary course in the school in 2017.

Padmanabhan in his complaint said that it was the local committee leadership that had handed over the complaint to him.

Meanwhile, Shaji said nod for the Vigilance probe against him was an outcome of a political vendetta after he criticised the chief minister through his Facebook page and later at a press conference.