IN a major setback to the UDF government just before the three-tier panchayat elections in the state, a special anti-corruption court on October 29 ordered further investigation into allegations that finance minister K M Mani took Rs 25 lakh bribe in two installments from office-bearers of the Kerala Bar Hotels Association (KBHA). Judge John K Illikkadan observed that there was sufficient material for making out a prima facie case against Mani and directed investigating officer R Sukesan to conduct further probe. The court rejected the contentious finding of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) that there was not enough evidence to prosecute Mani. The court was highly critical of the role of VACB director Vinson M Paul. Following the court order, the VACB chief quit.

The decision, which came against the backdrop of the campaigning for the local bodies elections, saw the voluntary exit of VACB director Vinson M Paul, setting off an avalanche of political reactions challenging Mani’s moral right to continue in office. The judge observed that KBHA working president Biju Ramesh’s driver Ambili had categorically stated that he had witnessed the handing over of the money to Mani by KBHA working president Rajkumar Unni at the minister’s residence. KBHA treasurer Jacob Kurian had testified that John Kallat, another office-bearer, had entered Mani’s house at Pala in Kottayam district with Rs 15 lakh collected by the association in March. Jacob said he inferred that the amount was handed over to Mani. If not, it would have been handed back to him. These two events, which happened in quick succession, and other evidence on record were adequate direct and circumstantial evidence to attract provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court’s order unleashed a political storm, with opposition parties once again demanding Mani’s resignations and many senior ruling party politicians maintaining silence. The CPI(M)-led LDF slammed the UDF on the issue of corruption. The LDF has been continuously demanding Mani’s resignation both inside and outside the Assembly ever since the scam broke out a year ago. Within hours of the court verdict, a protest march was taken out by LDF in front of the secretariat, demanding the resignation of the finance minister. Next day, throughout the state LDF organised protest marches. CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan demanded resignation of the finance minister. "The court verdict vindicated the protest staged by opposition within the assembly and outside. Further probe should be conducted under court supervision," said Kodiyeri. Pinarayi Vijayan said the UDF government has lost the moral authority to remain in office after the vigilance court verdict. "The issue won’t be settled by the vigilance director’s exit. The real story is that attempt to sabotage the probe using the vigilance director." Mani should not remain in office even for a day, warned Achuthanandan. LDF leaders will meet the Governor seeking his intervention in the case.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mani himself have ruled out resignation. Chandy said that "the court verdict for further probe is a natural process. Final verdict of the court is the one that is important". While welcoming the probe, Mani said that "similar investigations were conducted in the past against ministers and chief ministers. Some kind of conventions was adopted in such situations. That is applicable to me also.” The real story is that Chandy is increasingly getting isolated within the Congress and UDF. Many senior leaders have warned him that continuing to support Mani will severely compromise the party’s electoral interest. Senior leaders are unhappy with the way the chief minister has gone about defending Mani. Day after the verdict, Chandy reiterated that he saw no reason for the finance minister to step down. KPCC president V M Sudheeran is learnt to have told Chandy and home minister Ramesh Chennithala that Mani is becoming a liability for the UDF government. He warns that there could be a backlash against Congress and UDF in the local bodies poll and ensuing assembly elections. In fact, soon after the court verdict, Antony called it “true verdict”. Speaking to mediapersons at Kozhikode, Antony said that morality is a personal virtue, clearly signaling that Mani himself should take the initiative and resign. More leaders are expexted to break their silence after the poll. The court verdict provided impetus to discontent within the Kerala Congress (Mani) too.

Even diehard UDF loyalist do not believe that the coalition can repeat its stunning performance of the last local body election. A confident LDF has put up united fight for the decisive battle. A much better victory would have been certain for LDF this time. A leading national daily reported that in all probability, the poll outcome could be a clinging factor for the Left in the run up to the 2016 assembly polls.