Kerala finance minister Mani gets relief in alleged bar bribe

The legal adviser of the Kerala Vigilance department has dismissed charges of the vigilance inquiry team alleging the role of state finance minister KM Mani in the bar bribe scam.

Stating Mani cannot be chargesheeted in the case, Vigilance department legal advisor CC Augustine said there was no evidence against Mani receiving bribe and extending any undue favour to the bar owners.

The observation made it clear the incumbent case against Mani is not legally standing. The legal advice was prepared by drawing references from the previous Supreme Court judgments under similar involvements.

This has provided a sigh of relief to the chief minister and the ruling UDF front in the state, and would lift the sentiments of the party cadre in the run up to the bypoll in Aruvikkara constituency in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

Reacting to the observations made by the legal adviser, Mani said, "It had been a prolonged and a detailed inquiry. There was no evidence against me. I am ready for any legal scrutiny".

In the light of the observations made the legal adviser, Vigilance director Vinson M Paul can now order further inquiry in the case to collect more evidences, which is practically impossible, as among the 300 plus witnesses interrogated in the case, only two had confirmed Mani of accepting bribe.

If the vigilance department decides to submit a winding-up petition in the case, it can be opposed in the high court. This means the case is set for a prolonged legal battle.

Hence, it is almost certain the plight of the case could just be like the Palmolein case, which is under the consideration of the Supreme court for the last 25 years.

Meanwhile, in his report, vigilance SP R Sukesan, has claimed the confidential statements of bar owner Biju Ramesh and his driver Ambili, results of polygraph tests and situational evidences stood against Mani.

Vigilance ADGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib would now seek the legal advice of additional prosecutions director in proceeding further in the case. He is also likely to seek the advice of the advocate general.

It is almost certain that further proceedings in the bar bribe case could come to the fore after the conduct of bypoll, scheduled to be held on June 27. The Opposition parties reacted saying there was nothing surprising in the legal advice.

"This was expected and we would bring this to the people of Aruvikkara. Let the people's court decide this," Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, said.