THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance special court here refused to accept the closure report filed by vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) in the bar bribery case against K M Mani, the third time the bureau has done so citing lack of enough evidence against the former
finance minister and KC (M) chairman.
The court’s decision is bad news for Mani and UDF, to which he recently returned, but also exposes dillydallying on the part of LDF which, in the early days of its present tenure, was visibly reluctant to proceed against the
Kerala Congress veteran.
The special court refused to accept the report absolving Mani of all charges after considering petitions by veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan, hotelier Biju Ramesh and LDF convenor A Vijayaraghavan, who had appealed to the court for further probe in the case. The court asked the bureau to seek permission from the government for a fresh probe, as the latest amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act has introduced a clause making it mandatory for VACB to obtain government permission to probe graft cases. The case will be considered by the court again on December 10.
VS welcomes court order
VACB had told the court that there is no scientific evidence to prove the allegation against Mani that he had accepted Rs 1 crore as bribe from hoteliers for renewing bar licenses while he was finance minister in 2013-14. The court, however, accepted the arguments by Ramesh and Vijayaraghavan that scientific evidence available had not been properly analysed by the bureau. During earlier hearings, Ramesh had argued that voice clips which were substantial proof of money having changed hands were not fully and properly examined by VACB. The court had earlier also criticised the agency’s final report, saying that it read like a court verdict.
Former CM Achuthanandan welcomed the order. “It has become clear that amendments in the PC Act would clear the way for the corrupt to evade the law. The government should permit VACB for continuing the probe. The stand being taken by the prosecution also has to be examined,” he said. Biju Ramesh said the verdict is the court’s “gift” to the people of Kerala.
The change in political equations in the state has visibly influenced the ruling coalition’s stand in the case -- the LDF government had initially been reluctant to take the case forward as KC (M) had left UDF and had plans to join LDF but changed its position when the party went back to UDF before the
Chengannur bypolls.
This is the third time that the agency has taken a stand that the case has to be closed for lack of evidence. Sources in VACB said the agency has hardly anything new to act against Mani, as investigation has not been able to prove the demand part in the case, which is the most crucial and essential aspect in a corruption case. Except former vigilance director Jacob Thomas and former special investigation unit-I SP R Sukeshan, no vigilance official, including its previous head N C Asthana, had felt that the case had enough evidence to charge-sheet Mani. Since digital evidence submitted by Ramesh also were found to be doctored, the agency will not be able to use it as evidence in court.
K M Mani 
