SC refuses to quash proceedings against Nowhera Shaikh

A woman entrepreneur, who was arrested two days ago, has been declined relief by the Supreme Court - to quash proceedings initiated against her for duping a number of candidates by promising to give them tickets for the Assembly polls from her political outfit, All India Mahila Empowerment Party.

Nowhera Shaikh, director of Heera group of companies, who also engaged in mobilising investment through gold schemes, has reportedly been arrested by the Hyderabad police from New Delhi on Monday.

It was only last week the apex court had declined to entertain her plea for quashing the criminal proceedings initiated against her in a Bengaluru court.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana and Mohan M Shantanagoudar dismissed her petition as withdrawan since her counsel preferred to withdraw it after the court showed its disinclination to entertain it.

She had challenged the Karnataka High Court's order of July 12, refusing to consider her plea.

The high court has found no reason to interfere with the investigations since 11 cases were registered against her and there was no material to show vengeance or ill-will in the complaints lodged against her.

The matter before the high court arose out of three FIRs registered with JB Nagar police in Bengaluru on three separate complaints made on May 10.

It was alleged that 38-year-old Nowhera had entered into agreement with the complainants and received “blank” cheques to provide them 'B' form to contest elections. In return, she promised to provide them all facilities including funds to fight elections. After the elections got over, it turned out that she or her party never assisted the candidates. When they asked her to return the cheques, she allegedly turned them away, threatening them of dire consequences.