KM Mani committed corruption in aiding poultry dealer, ayurvedic cos: Vigilance informs HC

KOCHI: Former finance minister KM Mani committed corruption by abusing his official position to stay revenue recovery involving Rs 65 crore against poultry dealer Thomson group and granted retrospective tax exemptions to ayurvedic companies illegally, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has submitted to the Kerala High Court. VACB’s contention was in the form of a statement filed by DySP Feroz M Shafeeque in response to a petition filed by Mani challenging FIRs registered against him.He had argued that there is no proof of demanding illegal gratification and that he was empowered to intervene as a minister.
Opposing the petition, VACB’s statement said, “It is revealed from the Quick Verification that K.M Mani, then Minister of Finance, Kerala has abused his official position and without any authority ordered stay on recovery proceedings amounting Rupees Sixty Five Crores in favour of the poultry dealers when such authority was vested with the Chief Minister. The illegal transfers of officers in the post of Deputy Commissioner (Appeal), Ernakulam can also be seen as illegal act favouring poultry dealers of Thomson group. The above act of K.M Mani amounts to criminal misconduct as per provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.” As per a government order of 2012, the finance minister is not authorized to grant a stay on revenue recovery for amounts exceeding Rs5 lakh and only the chief minister can do so, VACB has submitted.
Further, VACB has informed the court that two deputy commissioners were transferred at the instance of the minister’s office as they were not likely to issue an order favourable to Thomson group. “Tome Joseph (deputy commissioner), stated that Jayachandran, Additional Private Secretary of Sri K.M Mani, tried to influence him over phone several times to get favourable orders for poultry dealers. When he denied to act illegally, he was transferred out from the post. As the illegal transfer was effected by the Finance Minister, the act of additional Private Secretary can be said as per instruction of Sri. K.M. Mani,” the statement said.
It was alleged in the FIR that Mani granted retrospective exemption of taxes to Ayurvedic companies from 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent disregarding objections by the commercial taxes department. “It is prima facie revealed that Sri K.M Mani has taken undue interest in granting retrospective effect to tax reduction in favour of Ayurvedic cosmetic manufacturers. The allegation of corruption involved in this deal needs detailed investigation,” VACB has now told the court.