Kerala’s Marxist MlA V Sivankutty on Tuesday accused State Finance Minister KM Mani, already facing charges of ‘Budget sale’ and taking bribe from liquor traders, of giving relaxation from revenue recovery proceedings to 211 businessmen causing a loss of Rs116.15 crore to the Exchequer.
Sivankutty, who raised the charge in the State Assembly, said Mani had committed corruption to the level of Rs11.61 crore through this action for which he had no authority. He demanded a probe into Mani’s assets by an agency from outside the State. He had last week accused Mani of amassing Rs27 crore through ‘sale’ of Budget proposals to bakers, jewellers, quarry owners, etc.
The CPI(M) MlA also charged Mani with efforts to settle the infamous bar bribery case pertaining to the charge that he had taken bribe from bar owners by engaging agents to talk Biju Ramesh, who had levelled the charge against him.