Kozhikode: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator K M Shaji has launched an apparently tough battle against his disqualification on the grounds that his 2016 assembly election campaign had communal overtones. Shaji has sought an inquiry into the source of a notice distributed during the campaign, which had proved the charge against him. A police document reveals now that it was delivered to the police by a CPM worker.

Shaji's election was annulled on the basis of a petition filed by his rival, LDF candidate M V Nikesh Kumar, stating that the notice was picked up from the house of a local leader of the UDF, of which the IUML is a constituent. However, the new revelation is that it was delivered to the police station by rival CPM worker Abdul Nasser.

Shaji wants Nasser interrogated to trace the source of the notice. He said he will lodge a petition with the state police chief seeking a police case and investigation.

Shaji has filed a petition demanding action against the police officer who provided false information to the court, which led to his disqualification.

The notice urged Muslims not to vote for anyone who does not believe in Islam. Nasser argued that he got the notice from the UDF leader's house a day after a police raid failed to find it there. He delivered it to the police. “The statement is mysterious,” says Shaji. “Therefore the work of Nasser and other CPM folks should be probed in detail.”

A statement Nasser made to the police has also come out, admitting he is a CPM worker and that he was working for Nikesh Kumar.

Some of those who allege that similar notices were found in other parts of the constituency are also CPM workers. “They should also be interrogated and evidence gathered. This is essential to locate the press where the notice was printed, and who worked behind it,” Shaji said. “I will meet the police chief soon.”