Kochi: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (Vigilance) has submitted before Kerala High Court that the allegations against K. M. Mani and K. Babu are different.
Sankar Reddy, director, VACB, submitted that the period of acceptance of money, motive/purpose for the acceptance, and the persons alleged to have accepted the money are entirely different.
So it is undesirable to investigate the new allegation along with the K. M. Mani case as it does not form part of the same transaction in the ongoing investigation.
Mr Reddy further submitted that the quick verification into the allegations leveled by Biju Ramesh had been commenced and a report would be filed on or before January 23. Mr Ramesh was questioned and his statement was recorded.
Interestingly, Vigilance refused to make any mention about the FIR even though a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan asked the Vigilance why there was no FIR against K Babu as per apex court guidelines.
The witnesses cited in the complaint had also been examined and verified. The inquiry officer proposes to complete the quick verification soon.
He argued that three cases seeking probe into the allegations levelled by Biju Ramesh were already pending before three different forums,one before the Lok Ayukta and the two other in the Vigilance Courts at Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram.
The affidavit further said that any aggrieved person can approach and ventilate their grievance on the basis of alternative remedy before the Lok Ayukta.
The affidavit said that Biju Ramesh had filed the complaint against the Excise Minister without obtaining valid sanction required under section 19(1) of Prevention of Corruption Act from the authority competent.
