Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front government plunged into a serious political crisis on Wednesday as a special unit of the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) registered a case of alleged bribery against finance minister K.M. Mani.
The case is a fallout from allegations made over a month ago by liquor bar association state working president, Biju Ramesh that the association had paid a bribe of Rs10 million (Dh589,305) to the finance minister at his residence.
Ramesh claimed Mani had sought Rs50 million and that the association had paid Rs10 million. Mani had denied the allegation.
The vigilance cell at Poojapura in the state capital registered the case and will give due notice to the court. A special investigation cell of the vigilance department will conduct the case.
The decision to register a case was taken after getting the statements of Biju Ramesh and his driver and accountant regarding their allegations of money being paid to Mani. Other individuals also gave statements against Mani.
The bribe was apparently to get Mani to influence the government not to shut liquor bars at a time when the government was moving towards a policy of prohibition in the state.
Mani heads the Kerala Congress (M) party, a key constituent of the ruling UDF, and the vigilance department’s move to include him as an accused in a bribery case is expected to lead to political repercussions.
Mani, who is presently in Delhi to attend a meeting of finance ministers, reacted that the allegation was “baseless” and that the vigilance probe would prove so. He added that there had been such investigations against ministers in the past, too.
Mani, however, steered clear of questions as to whether there had been a conspiracy from the Congress in framing him in the case. There had been conflicting legal opinion whether or not to proceed with a case against Mani, and the decision to book him in the case came as a surprise to the Kerala Congress (M) camp.
The state government may have been compelled to register a case because there is a directive from the Supreme Court that when a bribery allegation is raised, a case must be registered within 45 days.
In the state assembly, the opposition had been demanding action against Mani last week, and opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan had also demanded that a probe be launched against the finance minister.