The Inquiry Commissioner and Special Court to consider the case today.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is likely to seek more time to complete the further probe into the bar bribery case against former finance minister K.M. Mani. The Inquiry Commissioner and Special Court (Vigilance) is scheduled to consider the case on Wednesday. Though the Vigilance had earlier submitted a report to close the case, former Vigilance director Jacob Thomas had decided to review the case. Subsequently, the VACB sought the court's permission for further probe citing that some fresh evidence was received. The court allowed further probe in August 2016.
Already, the Vigilance has sought a couple of extensions for completing the further investigation which was at a standstill for several months as a DySP, entrusted with the probe, went on long leave and no other officers in the VACB Special Investgation Unit - I dealing with the case were willing to take up the probe. Sources said that the further probe was mainly based on the recorded audio conversation of bar owners produced by bar owner Biju Ramesh. But an examination at the Central Forensic Lab in Hyderabad found that the audio files were tampered with.
