Vigilance books KM Mani in bargate

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani on the allegation that he had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 5 crore from bar owners to facilitate the renewal of bar licences.

The charges framed in the FIR are under section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and section 13 (1) (d) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the FIR, Mr Mani, who is the lone accused, allegedly demanded Rs 5 crore as illegal gratification to facilitate the renewal of bar licences and obtained Rs 1 crore from the office-bearers of Kerala Bar Hotel Association between March 20  and April 3, 2014.

From the evidence collected, it was learnt that the money was handed over to Mr Mani on three occasions at his official residence and Pala residence. A “relevant” witness deposed that he had seen the handing over of money to Mr Mani at his residence on April 2, the FIR said.

“The findings of the quick verification necessitated an extensive investigation by registering a case to unearth the entire transactions.

Besides, registration of FIR is mandatory as per Supreme Court directions,” said the FIR submitted to the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) here on Thursday.

Vigilance Special Investigation Unit-I SP R. Sukesan filed the FIR as per the direction of Vigilance Director Vinson M. Paul.  A Vigilance team under Mr. Sukesan will conduct  further investigations.

Legal experts pointed out that it was for the first time in Kerala’s history  that a case for demanding illegal gratification was being registered against a minister.  In most other  cases against ministers, the charge was causing pecuniary loss to the exchequer.

During the quick verification, some of the office- bearers of Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association and bar owners gave statements  to the VACB that they had contributed funds to the association state committee members to be given to  Mr. Mani. 

The quick verification was initiated on the basis of a petition given by Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan to the Vigilance Director in the wake of the allegation raised by Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association working president Biju Ramesh.  The VACB southern-range SP M. Rajamohan and DySP Suresh Kumar conducted the quick verification.