Vigilance not to prosecute K M Mani

In a major relief to the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, Vigilance has decided not to prosecute Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribery scam.
"Vigilance Director has taken a decision not to prosecute K M Mani, for want of sufficient evidence and materials to prove an offence of bribery," a senior official of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau told PTI.
Director Vincent M Paul has also ordered the investigating officer to file a closure report in the Vigilance court here. This report is likely to be filed by next week.
It is understood that for taking such a decision, the Vigilance director had obtained expert opinion from two senior Supreme Court counsels, including a former Solicitor General.

Reacting to the development, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said, "The government or myself have not interefered in the vigilance enquiry at any stage".
"I am not aware if such a report had been submitted or not," he said adding, the decision would be before the court for scrutiny.

The case against Mani, who is Kerala Congress (M) supremo, was registered on the basis of statements given by some of those questioned by investigators as part of a preliminary inquiry into the allegation that he had taken a hefty sum as bribe from bar owners for decisions favourable to them.

Vigilance had filed FIR against Mani in the Vigilance court here on the basis of a complaint by Biju Ramesh, working president of Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association, that the finance minister had demanded Rs 5 crore bribe as illegal gratification to facilitate the renewal of bar licenses and had obtained Rs one crore from the office bearers of the association between Mar 20 and April 2 last year.
The Left leaders had demanded Mani's resignation and had tried to prevent him from presenting the state budget in March this year, which led to the ruling and opposition fronts coming to blows in the Assembly and the house witnessing unprecedented violence.