VS Achuthanandan slams move to seek Attorney-General of India’s opinion in bargate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan has termed the Vigilance move to seek legal opinion from the Attorney-General of India (AGI) on the bar case as illegal.

In a statement here, Mr Achuthanandan said that the AGI, Mukul Rohatgi, who is also a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, had represented the bar owners in civil appeal 3198/2014 case. He had taken up the bar owners’ case prior to taking over as the attorney-general and solicitor-general.

He said in the bar bribe case, bribe was paid by bar owners to finance minister K. M. Mani. So it was inappropriate on the part of the Vigilance to seek legal opinion from a person who was a counsel for the bar owners.

Mr Achuthanandan said that the findings of the investigating officer were the most important document in the entire case and no other legal opinion could prevail over it.

Despite being fully aware of the importance of the investigating officer’s report, the vigilance director’s decision to send the matter to the AGI for legal opinion was against the norms and law.

The veteran leader said instead of resorting to jugglery, the vigilance director should file the charge sheet against Mani.