THRISSUR/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Saturday said power minister M.M. Mani need not resign in the wake of the court's rejection of his discharge petition in Anchery Baby murder case. The state secretary said the campaign unleashed by UDF and BJP and the case itself were politically motivated. Cases had been registered against Mr Mani on the basis of his controversial speech at Manakkad near Thodupuzha on May 26, 2012, he said adding that in Balu murder case the High Court did not permit a re-probe against Mani.
It was on this basis that he had filed a discharge petition in Anchery Baby case. But, additional session's court rejected it, Mr Balakrishnan said. "The party had already taken up these cases against Mr Mani. We are prepared to fight legally. Whether to face the trial or file an appeal in High Court over this Thodupuzha court order will be finalised after consultations with legal experts," the CPM leader added. He further said that during the last Assembly elections, Mani had mentioned in his affidavit about his inclusion in this Murder case and party had nothing to hide in this case.
The CPM leadership believes that there is no change the status of the case. At the time of taking oath Mani was an accused in the case and the status quo remains. The party has pointed out that rejection of discharge petition does not mean that a person has been convicted. The UDF which was facing internal problems following controversy over DCC presidents was deliberately trying to rake up the issue to divert the attention of the people.
