Bar bribery case: Court orders probe against Reddy, Sukesan

A Special Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday ordered a probe against former vigilance director N. Shankar Reddy and Superintendent of Police R. Sukesan, the investigation officer, in the bar bribery case.

The order follows a complaint alleging that the bar bribery case has been sabotaged by the duo.

Earlier in 2014, Kerala Congress (M) chief K.M. Mani was booked by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for allegedly taking a huge amount as bribe from bar owners in the month of March and April that year on the promise of helping them re-open the closed bars.

In the factual report prepared by investigating officer after the probe and submitted to VACB director, the Superintendent of Police admits there is no evidence for demand.

The vigilance court rejected the final report on October 29, 2015, and directed for further investigation.

The same officer (Sukesan) conducted further investigation and submitted a factual report to the then director N .Shanker Reddy stating that there is no evidence to prove demand and acceptance of bribe.

In June this year, Jacob Thomas took over the charge of the VACB and on August 25, the investigating officer filed a petition before the vigilance court seeking permission for further investigation. Later, the court issued an order allowing further investigation in the matter.

The petition filed by Thiruvananthapuram native Payichira Navas alleged that both officials (N. Shankar Reddy and R. Sukesan) had tampered the case diary.