In a latest development in the Kerala bar bribery case in which former finance minister K M Mani is an accused, Kerala HC asked whether the investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau of Kerala government will be justified on Saturday.
The court was hearing a review petition filed by Kerala Congress Mani Group [KC(M)] leader Sunny Mathew seeking the suspension of vigilance court's ruling. The court suggested the need of an external agency like the CBI to conduct the probe as the state agency can be biased as CM Oomen Chandy himself had earlier defended the ex-minister claiming he is innocent.
Court also criticised Chandy that he will be answerable for his comments over the case.
Court also asked if there was no evidence in the case they why did vigilance team submit the enquiry report. HC also said that the probe in the case should be trustworthy for the public and that is very necessary.
Sunny Mathew is one of the petitioners who had filed a petition in the Thiruvananthapuram vigilance court.
The court had asked the government to respond before Saturday afternoon.
K M Mani had resigned earlier this month after a year from when the scam first surfaced in public eye.
Mani's decision came after in the HC order, Justice Kamal Pasha said, “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion. People will have anxiety about any further probe if the minister continues… I leave it to the conscience of the accused person whether to continue as a minister.”
The opposition had started asking for his resignation after he was accused of accepting a bribe from bar owners.