THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance Legal Advisor V V Agustine has been removed from the panel of advocates appearing in bar bribery case against Finance Minister K M Mani.
Last time the court had criticised the argument that there was no proper evidence to file case against Mani. It was following this the Vigilance director decided to remove Augustine from the assignment.
Vigilance Additional Director General of Prosecution G Sasheendran will be appearing before the court instead of Agustine. This is for the first time that a senior advocate is appearing for Vigilance.
When the case was considered earlier, the Vigilance court had asked about the feasibility of seeking the advice of Supreme Court advocates, bypassing the Advocate General. Supreme Court judges Mohan Parasaran and Nageswara Roo had given the legal advice that the evidence against Mani was not sufficient.
The court had also asked whose decision it was, to seek advice of Supreme Court advocates. Vigilance Legal advisor S S Agustine had not given a clear reply to this. It is hinted that this was what that had irked the government, resulting in his removal.
It was nine persons including main complainant and Bar Association Working President Biju Ramesh, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan and LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan who had filed the petition against winding up of bar case against Mani.
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