Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by former finance minister K.M. Mani seeking to quash the FIR registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on the alleged deals with the ayurvedic medicine manufacturers and poultry farmers. Justice Kemal Pasha observed, “there is absolutely nothing to stall the investigation. The matter has to be properly investigated by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.”
“At the present stage, this court can only consider whether the allegations contained in the FIR are illegal or patently barred under any law. Over and above it, this court can consider whether there is a legal bar in proceeding with the investigation on the FIR. Even though it has been pointed out that there is no allegation in the FIR that the accused had obtained for himself or for others any pecuniary advantage, it has been specifically alleged in the FIR: ‘This has caused huge loss to the exchequer and corresponding undue gain to the ayurvedic medicine manufacturers ”’ the court observed.
The VACB had informed the court that it went ahead with the FIR in the Rs 65-crore poultry farm corruption case against Mr Mani after getting ample evidence. According to the VACB, Mr Mani conspired with the ayurvedic cosmetic manufacturers and illegally granted retrospective effect to the tax reduction of cosmetic products in the budget causing huge losses to the exchequer. Mr Mani abused his official position and without any authority ordered stay on the recovery proceedings amounting to Rs 65 crore in favour of the poultry dealers when such authority was vested with the chief minister, it was alleged.
