Crucial day for KM Mani today as Kerala High Court takes up bar bribery
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leaders feel that the court verdict on Monday is going to be crucial for finance minister K. M. Mani who is alleged to have a role in the bar scam.
Justice B. Kamal Pasha had posted the case for Monday for further arguments and final orders on the last week's appeal in the High Court against the vigilance court order for further probe. Before the KPCC office bearers’ meeting and KPCC executive meeting on Nov 11 and 12, which would discuss the poll debacle as well as the bar scam, HC verdict is going to be most crucial.
The majority of the leaders, including KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and home minister Ramesh Chennithala, are of the opinion that had Mr Mani stepped down, the outcome of the elections would have been entirely different.
A KPCC general secretary belonging to the Malabar region told DC that the bar scam had dented the image of the UDF government both in northern and southern districts, except rural areas. “Mani managed to have a victory in his Pala municipality. But not in other parts of the state and he is the one of the factors for the poll debacle. Before the UDF heads to the Assembly elections, Mr Mani, who has become a dirty linen should be removed,” said a peeved KPCC general secretary.
Initially, the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau special court had found there was evidence of Mr Mani having received money to renew bar licenses. While hearing the petition, the High Court observed that Vinson M. Paul, VACB director, had overruled the findings of the investigating officer and decided not to charge-sheet him.
Justice Pasha said he had no right to make changes in the findings of the investigating officer, who had stated that there was ‘adequate oral, documentary and scientific’ evidence to file charge-sheet against him. Vigilance director went on leave in the wake of adverse remarks against him.
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