THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Bar Hotel Association working president Biju Ramesh has alleged that the vigilance report exonerating former finance minister K. M. Mani was prepared at the behest of excise minister K. Babu.
In support of his charge, Mr Ramesh said that the report had needlessly mentioned losses sustained by him in particular and bar owners in general after the closure of bars.
“These figures were not taken from BEVCO, nor has anyone collected information from me. These calculations were arbitrary and were done at the excise minister's office,” he said and added: “What has Babu's office got to do with a Vigilance case.” He said that bar owners had together collected Rs 25 crore.
“Only Rs 1 crore was handed over to Mani sir. The rest was pocketed by other ministers. It is not to save Mani but to prevent the arms of law from reaching them that such a Vigilance report has been cooked up,” Mr Ramesh said.
He further alleged that SP Sukeshan who investigated the case was emotionally browbeaten. “His wife was given a transfer with promotion when the election code of conduct was in place for the Aruvikkara by-election,” Mr Ramesh said.
There was another point he raised to demonstrate that bigger powers were behind Sukeshan's report.
“The report is seen to have been submitted to the Vigilance director on January 5. But Sukeshan had went ahead with the investigation process even on January 7,” he said.
Mr Ramesh said that the report was conveniently silent on a number of issues. “The report only speaks of Saju Dominic's whereabouts by checking his mobile location but what about the other seven people who had gone to Mani's house?”
According to him, Mr Dominic had accidentally left his mobile at his hotel while leaving for Mani's house.
