CPI(M) in Kerala reiterates demand for Finance Minister K M Mani's arrest

Keeping up its pressure on ruling Congress-led UDF, CPI(M) today again demanded that state Finance Minister K M Mani be taken into custody over the bar bribery scam.

Talking to reporters at the party headquarters, AKG Centre here, party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan claimed attempt was on to sabotage the case before it reaches court.

"In this circumstances, Vigilance should initiate steps to take Mani into custody for a free and fair probe," he said.

Referring to recent media reports that the state Vigilance Director had sought legal opinion from the Solicitor General of India on this issue, Balakrishnan said, "it clearly shows that the official is under pressure by the state government to protect Mani".

The CPI(M) leader alleged that the probe into the case was now progressing based on the script charted by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Vigilance had filed the case against Mani based on allegations of Kerala State Bar Owners' Association working president Biju Ramesh that the outfit had paid bribe to the finance minister for getting favourable decision on bar licenses.

CPI(M)-led LDF is on the warpath demanding Mani's resignation ever since the scam came out in November last.