Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, May 18: Nowhera Shaik, the founder and national president of Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) that contested in the Karnataka assembly polls has been accused of cheating by seven of her party candidates, according to a report by Bangalore Mirror.

The candidates who lodged separate complaints with the police have accused her that she had taken money from candidates before the elections, promising to repay later. Since she has failed to repay, they have approached the police, they said.

The complainants alleged that they had spent their savings and even borrowed money from the finance companies to bear the election expense.

One of the MEP candidates, Krishna S, who was offered ticket from Shivamogga rural told the Banglore MIrror that MEP spokesperson Shahabas Khan had promised to bear the election expense of Rs 28 lac, the limit set by the Election Commission. "In one of the party meetings held at Leela Palace in Bengaluru, Khan asked me to pay Rs 50,000 to release Rs 28 lac party fund. I paid it through cheque. But when I approached Khan and Nowhera to provide him Rs 28 lac party fund, they raised their voice and also threatened to detain us. It is an internal issue and they have promised to solve it. When they threatened to detain us, we decided to file police complaint. They made seven to eight promises which I cannot reveal at this time, if they fail to refund our money, and then we will come to media with their promise and plans," he added.

Another complainant Kalavathi who contested from Sagara constituency too alleged that Nowhera had promised to bear the poll expense. Believing her, she borrowed Rs 23 lac but the party did not repay a single rupee.

However, MEP state advisory committee member Vandana Jain refuted the allegations. “Madam (Nowhera) has never promised anyone to give money. She had promised to give materials required for campaigning. She has not even taken empty cheques from anyone. The money was collected to issue tickets and B-form. Nobody has even threatened anyone," she told Bangalore Mirror.

Another MEP leader said that the candidates had spent money voluntarily and the party had never promised to refund. "Empty cheques were taken to ensure that party candidates don’t jump to other parties. Those cheques were not used and the candidates can also stop the payment," he said.

The police have confirmed the complaint from MEP candidates against Nowhera. "We have taken complaint against Nowhera and others under IPC sections 420- cheating, 406- criminal breach of trust, 506- criminal intimidation and 34- acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. We are verifying the account details and investigating other allegations made in complainant and necessary action will be taken accordingly," said an officer from Jeevan Bheema Nagar police station to Bangalore Mirror.