Kerala HC lambasts State Govt. for spending tax payer’s money on Supreme Court seniors

The High Court of Kerala today gave a scathing order in the Kerala Bar scam case involving allegations of corruption against State Finance Minister KM Mani. Justice Kemal Pasha upheld the order of the Vigilance court that further probe can be conducted into the bribery case involving Mani..The High Court, thereby, declined the government’s appeal against the order of the Vigilance Court. The Court also made some scathing observations against the Finance Minister who has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons for the past one and a half years..Observing that “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion”, the Court said that it is leaving to Mani’s conscience on whether he should continue in his office as the Finance Minister or not..Most importantly, the Court also had some strong words for the State government for using tax payer’s money to procure the services of Supreme Court Seniors including Kapil Sibal and Mohan Parasaran for defending the Minister..Kapil Sibal had come to Kochi today morning from New Delhi to argue the case. During the pronouncement of order, Sibal opposed certain remarks made by the court and submitted that he has more arguments. The Court then responded by saying that it will hear him out but will pronounce its decision today itself..The case has its genesis in October 2014, when a bar owner Biju Ramesh revealed that Mani was given Rs. 1 crore as bribe by the Kerala Bar Owners to ensure that 418 bars, whose license had been revoked, were reopened..Following a letter then by leader of opposition VS Acuthanandan to the Vigilance Director, the Kerala government ordered a vigilance probe against Mani after a letter by opposition leader VS Achutanandan. After investigation, the vigilance came to the conclusion that was no evidence against Mani and therefore, filed a closure report to the Vigilance Court. The Court had, however, chosen to quash the clean chit given to Mani and ordered a further probe against which the government had appealed to the High Court..With the order of the High Court, pressure has mounted for KM Mani’s resignation. The decision regarding the same may be taken tomorrow.