EX AP Forest Minister detained in B'lore

Bangalore, Dec 11 (UNI) The airport police today detained former Andhra Pradesh Forest Minister Mohammad Shakir in connection with a CBI case, while he was about to fly to Jeddah on a Haj pilgrimage.

Airport police said Mr Shakir was detained following a CBI alert for his alleged involvement in a cheating case to the tune of Rs eight crore with a Mumbai branch of Punjab National Bank in 1998.

The former minister had obtained a new passport in 2006 after his old passport expired in 2004. He had done so without the permission of the CBI as the bank fraud case was still in progress.

Mr Shakir was detained while he tried to board a Sri Lanka Airways flight to Jedda, police added.

UNI