LDF moves high court for FIR against KM Mani

Kochi: Advancing its call for a court monitored investigation into the bargate scandal, the Left Democratic Front on Monday approached Kerala high court seeking a first information report against finance minister K.M. Mani.

The LDF also registered its  protest in the Assembly session which began on Monday and demanded the resignation of Mr  Mani.

Left MLAs led by Opposition deputy leader  Kodiyeri Balakrishnan submitted an adjournment notice to discuss the issue and raised banners and placards calling for a thorough probe into the case.

LDF convener Vaikom Viswan filed the petition before the high court stating that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau was delaying the case by not registering a crime.

The court was considering a petition by CPI MLA V.S. Sunil Kumar seeking a directive to the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to conclude the preliminary inquiry into the bribery case within seven days. The court will consider the case on Tuesday.

Notices were issued repeatedly to the state president and other key office-bearers of Kerala Bar Hotel Association, but they had failed to appear before the inquiry officer so far.

The state president, vice-president, general secretary and other important members, who are alleged to have participated in the transaction as stated by Biju Ramesh, requested for a convenient date after November 28.

But they failed to appear and again sought 30 days’ more time, the state submitted. The state so far has recorded the submissions of 26 persons in the case.

Mr Sunil Kumar criticised the VACB stating that questioning of 32 witnesses in a quick verification report to find out the prima facie truth was  unheard of, especially when prime witnesses Biju Ramesh, Ajeesh Mon, Vijayakumar and Sreevalsan had given statements.

He  termed the investigation as an attempt to save the culprits by pushing the dirt under the carpet. He further submitted that the ongoing 'quick verification' was nothing but an eyewash.

Biju Ramesh, working president of Kerala State Bar and Restaurant Association, had revealed  that Mr Mani demanded Rs 5 crore as bribe for renewing the licences of the bars closed owing to the government decision, Mr Viswan argued. Biju Ramesh had alleged that an amount of Rs 1 crore was handed over to the minister at his resident in Pala.

According to Mr Viswan, though Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan had sent a letter to the Vigilance director to register a case, he had ordered to conduct a quick verification and file a report within 45 days.

The direction was in fragrant violation of the order of the Supreme Court, the petition said. Those who had given statements before the Vigilance had made it clear that the officers were reluctant to record the statements truly and correctly, he added.