Drop tainted KM Mani, LDF urges Governor P Sathasivam

The memorandum submitted by LDF delegation led by Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan to Governor at the Raj Bhavan here, stated that it was for the first time in the history of the state that a cognizable offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act was being registered against a minister in power.

It pointed out that Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge on October 29 held that there was prima facie evidence that Mani had accepted Rs 50 lakh as illegal gratification from the office bearers of Kerala Bar Hotel Association.

The LDF said the court after perusal of entire materials placed before it, held that "from a comparison of the final report submitted in this case with factual report required by the investigating officer and scrutiny report prepared by Director VACB and from a perusal of materials available on record, it is clearly evident that opinion reflected in the final report is not the view of the final investigating officer.

The investigating officer was compelled to substitute his opinion with the opinion of director VACB. Accordingly the court refused to accept the report and ordered further investigations.

The opposition said Mani faced serious allegations of taking bribe. The office bearers of association had allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh on March 22, 2014 at Palai, Rs 35 lakh at his official residence in Thiruvananthapuram on April 2 and '50 lakh on March 31 at his Palai residence, it said.

The opposition said the findings of special judge had made two things clear that director VACB was instrumental for making the investigating officer refer report and there is a prima facie evidence of acceptance of bribe on March 22 and April 2.