Mani continuing as Mani will create anxiety in people: HC

KOCHI: The government’s move to ‘vouch for’ Finance Minister K M Mani in the court hit a new low today with the high court also coming out to harshly criticise K M Mani in the bar bribery case.

The court said if Mani continued in his post, it will create anxiety in the minds of people. Justice Kamal Pasha said the question of whether Mani should continue as minister or not is left to his conscience. It also clarified that further probe could be carried out in the bar bribery case.

The high court was harshly responding to the appeal made by Vigilance Additional director, seeking the cancellation of the Vigilance court verdict against Mani.  

The plea petition was filed, pointing out that the Vigilance court verdict was hindering the Vigilance department’s freedom to act independently. This argument was rejected by the court.

The court’s observation has put Mani in an embarrassing situation and now the only suitable option before him is to resign. Even if he tries to cling onto the minister’s chair, there will clamour from within the Congress and other UDF allies for his exit, let alone the Left agitation for his resignation. The RSP had held the view that the bar bribery case had resulted in the UDF’s poll debacle.
As the Assembly election is fast approaching, Congress as well as other allies in the UDF will unequivocally demand Mani’s removal.