The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday started the “quick verification” of the allegation that Finance and law Minister KM Mani had taken Rs1 crore as bribe from bar owners promising them help for getting licences renewed for the bars which were lying closed since March 31 last.
As a first step, Vigilance Director Vincent M Paul issued an order announcing constitution of a team of investigators with Superintendent of Police S Rajmohan (Southern Range) as its head. The preliminary investigation, based on a letter handed over by Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan to the VACB Director, is to conclude within three months.
The Vigilance team asked Biju Ramesh, working president of the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association, who had alleged that Mani had demanded Rs5 crore as bribe and had taken Rs1 crore, to appear on Wednesday before them for recording statement but he said he would be able to appear only on Friday.
It is not yet clear whether the Vigilance will record the statement of Minister Mani. The Government, which has claimed that the allegation against Mani is baseless, has already made it clear that the current process is not a probe but a “quick verification” by the Vigilance of the allegation on the basis of Achuthanandan’s letter.