A petition was filed in the Kerala High Court on Wednesday seeking a directive to the investigation officer in the bar bribery case to submit the investigation report in a sealed cover before the court.
The petition was filed by All Kerala Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Protection Council president Issac Varghese.
According to the petitioner, the investigation in the case was complete. However, the Additional Director General of Police (Vigilance) had decided not to submit the final report before the court claiming lack of evidence. The final report was now before the Vigilance Director. In fact, the investigation officer had questioned 350 witnesses and seized several documents. Ambily, a prime witness in the case, was subjected to polygraph test. However, the investigation officer had not conducted any investigation on this count. Nor had he collected the bank account details Finance Minister K.M. Mani who was accused in the case.
The petitioner pointed out that the Additional Director General of Police who was supervising the case had made a revelation that there were several obstructions during the investigation. Therefore, in order to inspire public confidence and faith in the investigation system, the court had to monitor the investigation.
As no final report had been filed, the court could monitor the investigation of the case. — Special Correspondent
