KC-M backs Mani in the bar bribery case

Ruling UDF partner Kerala Congress (M) today rallied behind party supremo and state finance minister K M Mani as political rivals intensified their demand for his resignation after the High Court denied stay to Vigilance Court order for further probe in bar bribery case.
A high-level meeting of KC-M, the third largest partner in the UDF, held at the official residence of Mani expressed full solidarity with him and said there was no need for his resignation in view of the court order.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, state Water Resources Minister and senior party leader P J Joseph said the meeting discussed the issue and unanimously decided that Mani should not resign in the wake of court order.

The party has nine MLAs in the state assembly.
The high court refused to grant an immediate stay on a recent Special Vigilance Court order for a further probe into the sensational bar bribery case in which an FIR has been filed against Mani over allegations that he received Rs one crore bribe from liquor bar owners for renewing licences.
During the hearing of the Vigilance petition challenging the special court order, Justice B Kemal Pasha also criticised the role of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau director in the case. The court posted the case to November 9 for next hearing.

Seizing on the new development in the case, CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today demanded that Mani should resign immediately.

Governor P Sathasivam should intervene and "sack Mani from the Cabinet" in view of court observations, he said.
The case was filed against Mani last year after a 'quick verification' by the Vigilance on the allegations made by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners's Association working President Biju Ramesh.
Triggering a controversy, Ramesh had in October last alleged that Mani demanded Rs five crore as bribe from the association and accepted Rs one crore for renewal of licences of 470 Indian Made Foreign Liquor bars in the state.

Both state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the 82-year- old Mani, present chairman of GST Empowered Committee, have denied the charges and dismissed it as "politically motivated" ever since the scam came out last year.
The state also witnessed a series of agitations by CPI(M)-led LDF opposition demanding the resignation of Mani since the scam broke out.
The assembly had also witnessed unprecedented violence over the issue when LDF members tried to prevent Mani from presenting the budget on March 13 last.