Bar bribe scam: Vigilance seeks closure of case against Mani

Says there is no evidence of demand and acceptance of bribe by Mani

In a major relief to Kerala's finance minister KM Mani against whom an FIR had been filed in the bar bribe scam, the state vigilance today filed a closure report in the court, holding that there was no evidence to frame a chargesheet against him.

The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau, in its 60-page report submitted before the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge John Illekadan, sought closure of the case against Mani.

The report stated there was no evidence to corroborate the charges levelled against Mani that he had demanded Rs 5 crore and accepted the Rs 1-crore as bribe.

"There is no evidence of demand and acceptance of bribe by Mani. Not even a single witness has stated that Mani had demanded money or that he accepted money," sources said.

President of Kerala State Bar Owners Association Rajkumar Unni and others had deposed before investigation team that "they had not given any money to Mani and that Mani had not demanded any money from them".

"There is no oral, documentary or circumstantial evidence to frame a chargesheet against FM. The only deposition against Mani was that of association's working president Biju Ramesh and his driver Ambli, both persons who had levelled charges."

The Vigilance director had last week directed investigating officer R Sukeshan to file a closure report in the court after considering all aspects. The Vigilance had also obtained expert opinion from two senior Supreme Court counsels, including a former Solicitor General.

The case against Mani, who is Kerala Congress(M) supremo, was registered on the basis of charge by Biju Ramesh, after CPI(M) veteran and state Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan filed a complaint before the Vigilance seeking a probe.

After a 'Quick Verification', Vigilance registered an FIR in the case in December last.

The allegation was that Mani had demanded Rs 5 crore and received Rs 1 crore from the association for renewal of licence of 470 foreign liquor bars between March 20 and April 2 last year.