THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K.M. Mani refused to resign in the wake of the Vigilance court order to further probe the bar scam case, while Congress leaders rallied behind him.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that there was no need for Mr Mani to resign, but Congress Working Committee member A. K. Antony and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said they would comment only after going through the order.
Mr Mani told reporters in Pala that the court order did not mean that he was guilty. “Let the scam be investigated 101 times,” he added.
Mr Mani opined that the case should be proved beyond doubt and said he had never interfered in the investigation. The court order was not at all a setback, he felt.
When asked whether he would step down, Mr Mani recalled that several cases had come against chief ministers and ministers during the terms of the previous governments.
“I am following the same pattern that the UDF and LDF governments have followed. I am not taking into account the allegations raised by the Opposition. I am not against any probe and let it continue. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau’s further investigation will prove that there is no evidence against me,” said Mr Mani.
Mr Chandy told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that there was nothing unnatural about the Vigilance court ordering a further probe into the case. “It is just a normal procedure. The current circumstances do not demand Mr Mani’s resignation,” he said.
Mr Antony said the verdict would not affect the UDF. The UDF candidate had won in Aruvikkara when the state was embroiled in allegations and controversies, he said.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said the party would think about further action only after discussing the issue in the UDF. “I have come to know of the order th-rough the media. After going thr-ough the details of the court order, the party will express its opinion,” he said.
Mr Ramesh Chennithala said nobody should be seen guilty due to the order. “It is just a legal course of action,” he said.
“The court has not registered any dissatisfaction or lapses in the investigation. It depends on one’s morality whether one should resign or not. Vinson M. Paul is hundred percent efficient. The court has not found any fault or expressed dissatisfaction in the investigation of the case,” he said.
The Muslim League welcomed a further inquiry, but general secretary K.P.A. Majeed said there was no need for Mr Mani to resign.
BJP state president V. Muraleedharan said the court order was a setback to the UDF government. He also demanded the resignation of Mr Chandy, Mr Mani and Mr Chennithala citing that they don’t have any right to continue in their posts.
