Heat on KM Mani as Vigilance sniffs Cliff House premises
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is learnt to have received more evidence in support of the allegations that Finance Minister K.M. Mani accepted bribe from bar owners. The VACB will also record the statement of Mr Mani soon.
According to sources, the other day, a Vigilance team visited the police security posts of Cliff House compound where Mr Mani resides and found the registration number of Kerala Bar Hotel Owners' Association working president Biju Ramesh's car in the vehicle registration book.
Biju’s driver Ambili had earlier given a statement that he had taken bar owners to the Finance Minister's house in Biju’s car bearing registration number KL-01-BB-7878 on May 3, 2014 to hand over Rs 35 lakh as a portion of the bribe.
The Vigilance had earlier received the details of mobile phone tower location of the bar owners who allegedly handed over the bribe to Mr Mani. As per the tower local details, most of them were in the Cliff House area during the mentioned time, said sources.
Vigilance sources ,who preferred to be tight-lipped, however, said that they would have to record Mr Mani’s statement in connection with the case. The Vigilance is likely to file a report on the probe before the enquiry commissioner and special court (vigilance) next week.
Mr Mani issued a statement maintaining that there was no separate vehicle register for his official residence. The outpost and register are at the entrance of Cliff House compound where the Chief Minister and four other ministers are also staying. Hence, it was baseless to say that there was evidence for Biju Ramesh’s car coming to his residence, said the statement.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mr. Oommen Chandy denied the reports that Mr Mani had expressed displeasure over the Vigilance carrying out investigations near his house.
“I am not aware whether the Vigilance carried out any examinations or measurements at Cliff House area as reported by a section of media. Mani used to meet me for many reasons. But we had no talks pertaining to the Vigilance probe,” Mr. Chandy said.