Efforts on to politically defame leaders in Kerala: KM Mani

Kerala Congress(M) leader K M Mani on Saturday alleged that efforts are being made to politically defame leaders in the state and frame them in false cases. The former Finance Minister, facing a vigilance probe into various cases, including the bar bribery scam, also questioned the manner in which the cases were being registered against political leaders in Kerala. He urged the CPI(M)-LDF government to "examine" it.

"Some efforts are there to defame political leaders by framing them in false cases. Unfortunately FIRs are registered against us also. There is a planned move to malign the image of political leaders", he said, addressing the district convention of Kerala Congress (M).

His statement assumes significance in the wake of the recent move by the state Vigilance and Corruption Bureau against corrupt political leaders.

Tightening its move against politicians facing corruption charges, VACB sleuths had last week conducted searches at the residences of former Excise Minister K Babu, his daughters and alleged benamis.