Bengaluru: The candidates of Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) have filed several cheating complaints, including one at JB Nagar police station, against its party chief and business tycoon Dr Nowhera Shaikh.

The complainants alleged that Shaikh had collected cheques from them as ‘party fund’ and assured that each candidate would get a B-Form. They were allegedly told to submit cheques to obtain funds from the party to be used for campaigning.

However, the candidates alleged that they have not received a single penny and when they asked for it they were threatened by the party chief and other leaders.

It is learnt that the party demanded cheques from all the candidates, but did not return it as promised. So far only seven candidates have approached the police across the state including Bengaluru.

The complainants have told the police that Shaikh had assured Rs 28 lakh for each candidate to spend during the pre-poll campaign and took a cheque of Rs 50,000 from them. It is learnt that some of the candidates had even signed for a higher amount.

Responding to the complaints, MEP state spokesperson Siraj Jaffri rubbished the allegations and termed it unfounded. “Yes, the candidates were asked to deposit some guaranteed documents towards the Moral Conduct of the MEP MLA candidates. The sole intention was to prevent them from deserting the party mid-way in the election. Also, she (Shaikh) wants to make it clear that she had not promised any candidate that she will be funding election expenses to every MEP MLA candidate,” he said.

He further said the party would return the guaranteed documents to all the MEP candidates.

The police have taken up the case 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), and begun investigation.