THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF has filed a petition seeking further investigation into the bar bribery case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani at the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Court (Vigilance).
Several other petitions against the decision of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to refer the case were also filed on Friday.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan, who is the initial petitioner of the case, as well as the key witness, bar owner Biju Ramesh, sought more time to file objections against the VACB’s decision to withdraw the case citing delay in getting documents pertaining to the case from the VACB. The court posted the case to August 22.
The petition filed by LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan alleged that Chief Minister Ommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had interfered in the Vigilance probe.
While the VACB probe was progressing, both the chief minister and the home minister had repeatedly stated that there was no evidence against Mr Mani in the bar bribery case.
This leads to strong suspicion that they had interfered in the Vigilance probe. The Vigilance had also not recorded statements of many bar owners, he alleged.
BJP state president V. Muraleedharan, Aam Admi Party leader Sara Joseph, and two other advocates filed petitions for impleading in the case.
