The claims of impartiality of the probe made by the Congress leaders, especially Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, have been contested by none other than one of the officers who formed part of the team that investigated the bar bribery case involving Finance Minister K M Mani.

Vigilance SP, R. Sukeshan, is on record that the team was under tremendous pressure to go soft on Mani right from the beginning. Such was the pressure, Sukeshan said in a sensational revelation, that at one stage he even contemplated suicide!

Sukeshan has also disclosed in a telephonic conversation with a friend that the bar owners have proof of the minister demanding bribe. The report on the bar bribery case, he said, had enough evidence to prosecute Mani. The startling conversation was released by a TV channel the other day.

The bar owners, Sukeshan was heard saying during the conversation, had recorded a conversation between them and Mani; and the minister could be heard seeking the bribe. But, the vigilance, the officer said, had failed to confiscate this important tape!

Sukeshan also revealed that the legal adviser of Vigilance, C. C. Augustine, had advised against prosecution of Mani, allegedly under pressure from some church leaders.

According to a few legal experts, a chargesheet could certainly be filed against Mani on the basis of available evidence. That it has not been done, obviously under pressure from the powers that be is clear from the revelations made by Sukeshan.

The CPI(M) has been quick to pounce on Sukeshan’s disclosures. CPI(M) state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said the officer’s disclosures proved beyond a shadow of doubt, that the government had succeeded in torpedoing the probe to save the UDF Government, which depends critically on the support of the 8-member Kerala Congress(M) led by Mani.

Another proof of the Government’s interference in the probe. Kodiyeri said, was that Vigilance Director Vinson M Paul, who is considering the probe report, has sought the legal advice of Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi and Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar. That Paul had to seek their advice bypassing the legal advisers of the state Vigilance Department was self-explanatory, Kodiyeri said.

The lapses in the probe report, Kodiyeri said, were because of the failure of the state police to arrest or interrogate Mani. And Mani had effectively used his position as the Finance Minister to undermine the probe, he added.

Incidentally, working president of the Bar Owners Association, Biju Ramesh, who first made the bribery allegations against Mani, has already signaled his intent to move the High Court in case the Government failed to file a charge-sheet against Mani. (IPA Service)