Lok Ayukta summons witness in bar licence case

: The Kerala Lok Ayukta on Thursday directed Ambili, a prime witness in the bar licence renewal bribery case, to appear before it on November 9.

The court was hearing a public interest plea to implicate Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the case and declare him unfit to hold public office under Section 14 of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act.

Ajith Joy, counsel for the petitioner, Khalid Mundapally, had requested the court to summon and examine the witness.

He pointed out that Vigilance investigator R. Sukeshan had relied on Ambili’s statement to conclude that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to prosecute Mr. Mani under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

However, the Vigilance director had rejected Mr. Sukeshan's report and concluded that there was scant evidence to implicate Mr. Mani in the case.

During the hearing, Upa Lok Ayukta K. P. Balachandran asked whether Ambili, employed as the driver of the Kerala Bar Association working president, was anybody's agent. The court received, in a sealed cover, the Vigilance quick verification report against Excise Minister K. Babu.