Kerala: Crucial bar bribe verdict tomorrow

 

While the UDF prays that the court will accept the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau's (VACB) refer report, the LDF hopes for further probe rejecting the closure report.

 

Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) John K Illikkadan posted the case for orders on October 29 earlier this month after hearing the pleas for further probe.

 

While the Vigilance counsel stressed the lack of evidence for demand or acceptance of the bribe as grounds for closing the case, lawyers for Opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan and others cited that the factual report prepared by the Vigilance investigation officer, SP R. S. Sukesan, suggesting Mr Mani’s prosecution.

 

They also pointed out that the Vigilance team did not take statements of many key persons, including Mr Achuthanandan, the original petitioner, and carry out a search on the official and private residences of Mr Mani where bar owners allegedly handed over the bribes amounting to Rs 1 crore.

 

Those opposing the Vigilance refer report are also pinning hopes on certain observations made by the court against the vigilance proceedings, especially concerning the direction of vigilance director to investigation officer to change a factual report.

 

On the other side, the government is pinning hopes on the court's observation that there were no eyewitness accounts on Mr Mani demanding or accepting the bribe.

 

Apart from Mr Achuthanandan, ten others filed petitions seeking a further probe by quashing the refer report filed by VACB. They include LDF convener Vaikom Viswan, controversial hotelier Biju Ramesh and CPI legislator V. S. Sunilkumar.