Bar bribery case: Vigilance report silent on N Shanker Reddy statements

Thiruvananthapuram: In a suspected ploy to put DGP N. Shanker Reddy in the dock, the preliminary enquiry report of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) into the alleged attempt to sabotage the bar bribery probe seems to be silent on his statements.

While considering the preliminary enquiry report on Friday, the vigilance special court here had pointed out that there were contradictions in the contents of the report as well as the conclusion that there was no scope to prosecute. The allegation was that Mr Reddy, who was Vigilance director then, sabotaged the bar bribery probe against then finance minister K. M. Mani.

According to sources familiar with the preliminary enquiry report, while the statements given by Vigilance special investigation unit SP R. Sukesan and other members of the investigation team were mentioned in the enquiry report, the counter statements of Mr Reddy were ignored. Hence the contents of the report seemed to be a one-sided one highlighting the allegations that Mr Sukesan decided to refer the case as per Mr Reddy's instruction.

“Mr Reddy's detailed statement is only given as an annexure along with the enquiry report. Its contents also should have discussed along with that of Mr Sukesan so that there would not have been any contradictions in the matters,” sources point out.

VACB Kollam unit inspector P. Jyothikumar, who conducted the preliminary enquiry, refused to comment on the issue.

Sources close to Mr Reddy allege that the inconsistencies could be a conscious one to mislead the court and the petitioner in the case could easily file an objection against the vigilance report.

Mr Reddy had earlier accused his successor Jacob Thomas of being prejudiced against him for filing a report to the Lok Ayukta earlier stating that Mr Thomas violated service rules by going for employment at TKM Institute of Management and obtaining Rs 8.47 lakh in 2009 without government sanction.

During the hearing on the petition seeking probe against Mr Reddy also the VACB filed a controversial statement implicating Mr Reddy through an administrative assistant, which was later quashed by the High Court, sources pointed out.