Jolt for Kerala UDF as court orders further probe against minister

Thiruvananthapuram: A vigilance court in Kerala’s capital on Thursday ordered further investigation into the bribery allegation in the liquor bar case, against state finance minister and Kerala Congress (M) leader, K.M. Mani.

Mani is facing charges of taking a bribe in order to ensure favourable terms for liquor bar owners in the state in 2014 at a time when the state government itself was contemplating a phased shutdown of all bars in the state.

The court found that there was prima facie substance in the allegations against the finance minister.

The directive comes at the most inopportune time for the ruling United Democratic Front in Kerala and particularly for the Kerala Congress (M), because the state is going to polls in four days to elect local body representatives.

The court’s ruling is a serious embarrassment for vigilance director, Vinson M. Paul, who had recommended closure of the case against Mani.

Stung by the court’s ruling, Paul decided to step down from the post of vigilance director and wrote to the state government seeking the change. He hinted that he would proceed on leave if not allowed to be changed from the post of vigilance director.

Paul said he decided to step out of the vigilance director’s role “to ensure transparency”, and that “only if one does something wrong should one feel guilty”.

He said he always worked within the framework of the law.

Paul is a senior police officer due to retire at the end of next month and the adverse court comments against him in the liquor bar case is considered a blow for his professional record.

Thursday’s ruling was given by vigilance judge, John K. Illikkadan.

The court expressed satisfaction at the investigation conducted by vigilance superintendent of police, R. Sukesan and directed that Sukesan continue the investigation. The ruling came when the court was considering a petition from 11 persons including Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan to pursue the case against Mani.

Achuthanandan said “Mani should resign today itself. If he has a sense of self-respect, he should resign”.

Mani responded that the court directive was “not a setback”. Speaking shortly after the court’s decision, the Kerala Congress (M) leader said, “Let there be 101 investigations. I have always held to the truth. The truth will emerge in the end”.

He said such allegations had come up against leaders in previous governments also, and that he had no plans to resign based on the allegations against him.

The acting president of the liquor bar owners’ association, Biju Ramesh had alleged that his association had paid a bribe of Rs10 million (Dh563,699) to Mani.

A first information report was filed in December 2014, to commence investigation into the allegation.