Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress (M) chief and state finance minister K.M. Mani, who is accused of accepting a bribe from liquor bar owners for protecting their interests, has come under intense pressure to quit.
The Opposition has demanded his resignation or forceful removal by the state governor.
Pressing the demand for his dismissal, Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Monday, “Mani should be removed from the cabinet by the chief minister. If not, the governor should intervene in the matter”.
The demand comes after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau found that the lie detector test conducted on one of those who claimed to have seen money being handed over to Mani, has proven the testimonial to be correct.
Mani was accused of bribe-taking by the liquor bar hotels association working president Biju Ramesh. His driver Ambili had testified that he was witness to the money being given to Mani, and the lie detector test has reportedly proven Ambili right.
The development means that the vigilance department will most likely issue a charge sheet, putting Mani’s tenure in the cabinet in a precarious position.
The finance minister has denied taking any bribe, but once a charge sheet is issued, his position may become untenable.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Opposition planned major protests if Mani is not removed from his post.
“The government is attempting to sabotage the case against Mani. The fact that an investigation report has not been submitted even eight months after the case was registered, points to this”, Balakrishnan said.
Liquor bar hotels association working president Biju Ramesh added more fuel to the allegations against Mani on Sunday, stating that the trade body had paid roughly Rs240 million (Dh13.8 million) to Mani and other leaders.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that the government was deliberately protecting excise minister K. Babu despite allegation from the liquor bar trade association that he had been bribed Rs100 million.
“The bigger case is against Babu, and yet the government is adopting double standards to protect Babu who is a Congress minister”, Balakrishnan alleged.
