Relief for Kerala government, no chargesheet against Finance Minister Mani in bar bribery case

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Earlier, the investigating officer in the case had reported that there was enough evidence to file a chargesheet against Mani, but the legal adviser to the Vigilance department, who examined the probe report, pointed out that a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act would not stand against Mani. There was not enough evidence to substantiate the accusation against Mani, said the legal adviser.

After the additional director of the VACB supported the legal adviser’s stance, VACB director Vinson M Paul took a final decision not to file a chargesheet against Mani in the case.

Sources said the investigating officer has now been asked to submit a final report in the court, informing it of the VACB’s decision.

Incidentally, the decision of the VACB director came after voting for the crucial by-election at Aruvikkara assembly segment got over on Saturday. The CPM-led Opposition had made the bar bribery case one of the major issues during the election campaign.

Ramesh, who has gone ahead with the case despite several other bar owners retracting from their earlier stand, said he would approach the Kerala High Court and seek a probe by central government agencies.

CPI legislator V S Sunil Kumar, who had earlier moved high court seeking a probe against Mani, said he would move an appeal against the decision to “save” the minister.