Bengaluru: Accused of duping party members on the pretext of funding them during the recently held Assembly elections, a case of cheating and forgery has been filed against founder-president of the All-India Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) Nowhera Shaikh at the Commercial Street police station. Earlier last month, another complaint was filed against her and five others at the Jeevan Bhima Nagar police station.
It has been 22 days since social activist Heena Kousar (29), who runs an Aadhaar centre, has been protesting along with 30 other party workers demanding her money back. Kousar told Deccan Chronicle, “Nowhera has not only cheated me, but also scores of other party members. I have been making rounds of the MEP office on Infantry Road, but we have been shooed away. A few days ago, a few of her men removed us from the dharna spot.”
According to Kousar’s complaint, which was filed on May 28, Nowhera had promised her Rs 2 crore for election campaigning, but demanded Rs 1 lakh first towards party fund.
She said, “I was approached by MEP members to contest the recently held Assembly elections. I readily agreed and sought a ticket from Mandya Taluk, but they asked me to contest from Maddur. I had paid the entire amount in cash and was assured that each candidate would get the B-Form. Later, I was asked to attend the party meeting.”
She said, “The initial amount was taken from me and others before the election and we were promised that the money for the campaigning would be given to us between May 1 and 4. When the promised money did not come I started visiting her office in Shivajinagar. Her secretary Mariam and personal assistant Roza misbehaved with me on May 8 when I went to ask for my money. They threatened me and also mocked me saying that no one has the power to touch them. They warned me that if I dared to visit their office again, the consequences would be dire.”
Kousar said Nowhera has reportedly told her staff not to go to the office as the police are keeping a watch. As per the complainant, many people who contested the election had mortgaged their houses and jewellery in the hope of getting the money but were cheated by Nowhera.
Kousar said that more people are coming forward and filing complaints with the police.
A police officer from the station said, "We have received complaints against MEP after a group of people approached us. Based on their statement we have registered an FIR."
