Upside Maaniu Mohamed has withdrawn his name for National Integrity Commission (NIC) membership nomination amid public outrage.

RaajjeMV has received the letter Maaniu sent to the President’s Office, requesting that his name be withdrawn, without giving a reason for the decision.

After Maaniu nominated himself for NIC membership, he received 75 percent from the committee tasked with grading the nominees.

Maaniu was previously the NIC President, but his recent nomination for membership has drawn public criticism, especially from the family of journalist Ahmed Rilwan, who believes that Maaniu had been negligent in investigating Rilwan’s kidnapping and disappearance.

Rilwan’s family also expressed concern over a suspect in the case, Mohamed Suaid, being a close relative of Maaniu’s wife.

In response, Maaniu said that the police had been investigating Rilwan’s disappearance by the time he was appointed NIC President, and so NIC had no authority in the case. He also said that he had fulfilled his responsibility as NIC President in regards to the case and that there was no evidence to accuse him of negligence.