The decision of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Director to seek legal advice from the Attorney General of India on the filing of charge sheet against Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the bar bribery case indicates his lack of faith in the State government, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] State unit secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said.
“The fact that VACB Director Vincent M. Paul chose to consult the Attorney General when the Vigilance department has a battery of legal advisers, shows that the State government is meddling in the investigation and not allowing him to function independently,” he told newspersons here on Tuesday. “With the investigating officer stating that the probe had unearthed 60 per cent evidence against Mr. Mani, the government is trying to sabotage the case before it reaches the court,” he said.
Evidence ignored
Mr. Balakrishnan said the investigation could not unearth critical evidence because of the failure to arrest Mr. Mani and question him in custody. Mr. Mani, he said, had influenced bar owners and asked them not to part with evidence establishing his role in the scam.
Mr. Balakrishnan said the verdict of the Aruvikkara by-election would reflect the popular resentment against the government’s bid to scuttle the bar bribery case. “A vote for the UDF will mean a vote for K.M. Mani,” he added.
