Bar bribery case: Kerala HC disapproves of Chandy remark on Mani

Oommen Chandy

The Kerala High Court on Saturday disapproved of a comment made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who had said that former finance minister K M Mani had not committed any offence in the bar bribery case.

Considering a revision petition filed by Sunny Mathew of Thodupuzha against the vigilance court order for further probe into the case, the court wondered how a fair probe could be carried out by an agency under the state government when the CM had himself stated that the accused did not commit any offence.

Justice B Sudheendra Kumar also restrained political leaders from making public comments about the merit of the case.

Story continues below this ad

Hearing the arguments, the court said an external agency should be entrusted with the case for an honest probe.

The court issued notices to Mani, the vigilance director and others in the petition. It also sought the submission of all documents related to the case, which would be heard next on December 2.