CPI(M) lashes out at Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) in Kerala Friday lashed out at Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the bar bribery scam and said he was trying to absolve Finance Minister K M Mani, who is facing charges of bribery in the case.

CPI-M veteran and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan asked on what basis Chandy was repeatedly saying Mani has not done anything wrong in a case which is under the scrutiny of the court and probe team.

Neither the probe team of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau nor any Court has said that Mani has not accepted bribe. Not only that, Vigilance was on the process of filing charge-sheet in the case, Achuthanandan said in a statement.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan accused Mani of interfering in the investigation and legal process in the case.

Chandy was trying to sabotage the bar scam case, he alleged and his statement was a message to Vigilance not to file charge sheet against Mani in the case.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had recently registered a case against Mani in connection with the charge that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences. Charges were levelled by the Working President of the Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners' Association Biju Ramesh.