Kerala bar bribery case: Reddy made no bid to save Mani

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to earlier reports, it has now come to light the Vigilance superintendent R. Sukesan has made no adverse remarks against former Vigilance director Shanker Reddy while seeking the court's permission for a further probe into the bar bribery case against former finance minister K.M. Mani.

According to the statement given by Mr Sukesan before the inquiry commissioner and special judge here on August 23, he sought permission for further probe saying certain new facts pertaining to the alleged corruption came to notice later.

Subsequent to the court order on August 27 for further probe, it was widely reported that Mr Sukesan had stated in an affidavit that Mr Reddy had tampered with his ‘factual report’ to keep Mr Mani off the hook. The court order and report filed by Mr Sukesan, which became public on Wednesday has disproved it.

According to the report, a copy of which is with DC, Mr Sukesan stated that the earlier probe could not be fully completed due to the court’s imposition of a time-frame and also due to foreclosure of investigation without obtaining expert scientific analysis of the materials collected. He also stated that the Vigilance now noticed new facts touching the allegations involved in the case which were not considered earlier.

“It is felt that further investigation is necessary to be carried out from different angles keeping in view of the fact that incriminating pieces of evidence were purposefully concealed or distorted by some of the material witnesses during the earlier investigation and only a further investigation in this case would unearth the truth," Mr Sukesan’s report said.