Kochi: In a setback for the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), the Kerala High Court expressed displeasure over the statements filed by the agency in the bar bribery case involving former finance minister K.M. Mani. The High Court observed that definite questions regarding the materials to prove the offence were not answered properly and clearly.
The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by Mani challenging the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court order giving permission to VACB to conduct a further probe into the case.
The VACB informed that it is not in a position to report anything as regards the materials collected so far The VACB is still waiting for the result of scientific examination of the CD containing telephone conversation.
The court observed that it was not known what the CD will prove. The Vigilance court had granted permission for a further probe on a petition filed by Superintendent of Police R. Sukeshan, who had initially probed the case. Sukeshan had filed the plea on the ground that former Vigilance Director Shankar Reddy had intervened in the earlier probe with a view of giving Mani a clean chit. Suekshan had earlier filed a final report in the case saying that no offence had been made out.
