Kerala CM Oommen Chandy ‘interfered’ in bar bribery probe?
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy reportedly ‘interfered’ in the bar bribery probe, according to an investigation carried out by The Indian Express.
The report claims that the investigation was based 'on government records and interviews with key officials' and showed that the probe agency toned down its final report, giving a clean chit to finance minister KM Mani.
The state’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had filed the report which had been rejected by the Vigilance court, asking for ‘further investigation’.
The bar bribery case came in the wake of pressure within the Congress and various anti-liquor groups to rework the state’s liquor policy to reduce the consumption of liquor.
Meanwhile, the LDF state committee will meet on Tuesday to review the political situation post-local body poll and High Court verdict.
Read:
Bar bribery case: HC orders fresh probe against KM Mani
Congress leaders ask KM Mani to step down
Bar bribery case: Worst day KM Mani ever had
Is fair probe possible with Mani in office: Kerala High Court
Though the meeting has been convened mainly to decide on the anti-Mani agitation, the High Court verdict has left Mani with no other option but to quit.
The LDF believes that the High Court verdict allowing further investigation into the bar bribe case and also adverse remarks against Mani for clinging on to power, has come as a shot in the arm for the Opposition.
The LDF will target Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for supporting Mani all through the bar bribe case and might even launch a state-wide campaign to seek his resignation.
The LDF state committee will review the performance of the front in the just-concluded local body poll. The LDF leadership strategy is to continue its no-holds-barred attack against the BJP's communal agenda especially after the near decimation of the saffron party in Bihar and step up attack on the UDF government in the state in connection with the bar bribe case.
The LDF leadership will also explore the possibilities of getting the former allies back into its fold. Though the RSP and JD(U) have made it clear that they would continue with the UDF, the Left leaders believe that situation might change towards the Assembly elections.
Top leaders of the Congress, especially V. D. Satheesan and T. N. Prathapan, went public on the demands for Finance Minister K. M. Mani’s resignation while UDF allies admitted as much in public.
The political situation in the state was in a tizzy on Monday following the High Court’s observations in the bar bribery case and Finance Minister K.M. Mani’s fate hung in the balance with the UDF scheduled to take a decision on Tuesday.
Sources close to Mr Mani said the court judgment and the observations needed to be studied in detail before coming to a conclusion. Mr. Mani believed that the verdict was not as damaging as made out by the media. He would consult legal luminaries before taking the plunge, it was learnt.
Mr Mani, who left his Karingozhakkal house at Pala, told reporters in the morning hat he was willing to face any investigation and added he was innocent.
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