KOCHI: The Kerala High Court ordered the vigilance to return the money seized from Muslim League leader K M Shahji in the case of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The court directed to return Rs 47 lakh seized from Shaji. The order was on the plea filed by him in the court demanding to return the money seized by the vigilance. Shaji’s plea said the money was seized during the raid related to the case.

The money was seized last year from Shaji's house at Azhikode in Kannur. Shaji claimed that the seized cash was part of the election funds collected. The action of vigilance was assessed as suspicious, including the fact that more money than the amount that can be collected in the election receipts was found in many receipts.

The vigilance court had earlier rejected the demand of K M Shaji to return the money. A case was taken against Shaji on the complaint of CPM activist Harish that the house worth one and a half crore rupees in Kozhikode was built through illegal acquisition of property. The high court had earlier stayed the further proceedings in the case.

A vigilance and enforcement case were filed against Shaji for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the school management to allow Plus Two in Azhikode High School. However, in last April, both the cases were canceled by the high court.