Court seeks records to decide bar scam case closure

Thiruvanthapuram, July 9 : A special court on Thursday told the vigilance department to produce all records related to a scandal linked to Kerala Fince Minister K.M. Mani apparently to close the case. The Special Vigilance Court here also posted the case for August 7. The case began in October 2014 when a whistle blower bar owner, Biju Ramesh, alleged that Mani was given Rs.1 crore as bribe by the Kerala Bar Owners to see that the 418 bars that were shut could reopen. After opposition leader V.S. Acuthandan wrote to the vigilance director, the Kerala government ordered a vigilance probe against Mani and a case was registered ming the minister as the first accused. After seven months of probe, the vigilance department said there was not enough evidences against Mani and it filed a closure report to the special court which took up the case on Thursday. It asked for notices to be served on Achuthandan and Biju Ramesh and called for all the records. Meanwhile, a fresh affidavit was filed before the court on Thursday stating the vigilance probe was not done properly and a fresh probe should be held under the supervision of the court. (IANS)