Legal opinion purchased to save Mani: Kodiyeri Balakrishanan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri  Balakrishnan on Monday accused the government of purchasing legal opinion to favour Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the bar bribe case.

At a press conference here,  he said that  doubts were being expressed about the  deal behind the pro- Mani legal advice. The  advice had been taken from the advocate who represented the bar owners in the Supreme Court.

Mr Kodiyeri alleged that some of the bar owners had agreed to give statements  in favour of Mr Mani following an assurance from the government that a favourable stand would be taken in the  bribe case.

“There are several unanswered questions in the episode. What are the other offers made to the bar owners to gather favourable evidence? Was the pro-Mani legal opinion an outcome of the government’s assurance in favour of bar owners?” he asked.   

The two persons who gave the legal opinion were not government officials.  “ The government's decision to give Mani a clean chit was on the strength of purchased legal advice. These lawyers normally demand up to Rs 10 lakh as fees. The government should clarify as to how much money was paid to them for getting the legal advice. Who gave the money? he asked.

“The Vigilance director has cleared Mr Mani's name despite the investigating officer saying that he had gathered 60 per cent evidence in the case registered about eight months ago. Now under pressure from the Vigilance director, there is an attempt to change the report in favour of the accused,” he added.

He said the LDF would even press for a CBI probe if the government persisted with derailing the probe. A decision would be taken after the court verdict, he added.