Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday said neither the State government nor he interfered with the Vigilance probe against Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the bar bribery case.
“It is impossible to have any kind of intervention in the functioning of the Vigilance, which is directly monitored by the judiciary. The inquiry is being done in a just and truthful manner, but anyone thinking otherwise may challenge it in the court,” Mr. Chennithala told the media here.
Renewed interest
There was a renewed interest in the bribery case after Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, Additional Director General of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), submitted a report to VACB Director Vinson M. Paul stating that there was zero evidence to charge-sheet Mr. Mani in the case.
Earlier, VACB legal adviser C.C. Augustine had maintained that if Mr. Mani was charge-sheeted based on insufficient evidence, it would not stand legal scrutiny.
Previous report
Mr. Sahib’s report overruled the previous report by VACB Superintendent of Police R. Sukesan which was in favour of proceeding against Mr. Mani citing ‘sufficient evidence’ against him.
Says the inquiry is being done in a truthful manner, but anyone thinking otherwise may challenge it in the court
