VS Achuthanandan stresses CBI probe in Mani bribery case

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai had opposed a CBI probe questioning the credibility of the central agency. The state secretary said the CBI had repeatedly failed in the cases that it had investigated in the state. Mr Pillai had also raised doubts about the central agency’s integrity.

However, undeterred by the leadership’s stand, the Opposition Leader in a statement said that even if the case had to be recommended for a CBI probe, the state needed to conduct a preliminary investigation and register a case. “It was in this context that I wrote to the vigilance director. But when the Chief Minister and senior UDF leaders made public statements that they are convinced that Mani is innocent, it was certain that the proposed vigilance probe is going to be a sham,’’ he added.

Mr Achuthanandan said that when he approached the Supreme Court in the palmolein case, the Chief Justice had asked how the police which functioned under the Chief Minister could probe a case against him. “After considering all these aspects, I decided to demand a CBI probe into the whole issue,” he added.

In this particular case, the agency which could effectively question Mr Oommen Chandy and Mr Mani was the CBI and that was why he had sought the probe by the central agency. “Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala have not reacted to my demand yet. All details regarding the bribe episode will come out once these personalities are questioned by an agency like the CBI. The people of Kerala too support the demand for a CBI probe to find the truth behind the allegations,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, CPM leader M.A. Baby said the party’s stand on the probe would be finalised after discussions. “Ideally it should be a probe which is monitored by the courts,’’ he added.