THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram vigilance court has rejected the report of vigilance acquitting former finance minister K M Mani in the bar bribery case. The court stated that the investigation is incomplete and directed the vigilance to conduct further investigation.

Bar owner Biju Ramesh had alleged that K M Mani accepted a bribe of Rs 1 crore for reopening 418 closed bars which were closed because of substandard quality. Biju had alleged that Mani demanded Rs 5 crore and he gave Mani Rs 1 crore in three instalments at Mani’s house.  V S Achuthanandan had sent a letter to then home minister Ramesh Chennithala seeking an investigation of this allegation. Chennithala had handed over this letter to vigilance director.

Bar bribery case originated charging K M Mani as the only accused following the probe conducted by the vigilance. K M Mani was acquitted in two investigation reports submitted by the vigilance during the tenure of UDF government. The court had rejected these reports following demands from several leaders including VS. Now the vigilance has acquitted Mani in the third report as well. Several people including VS have approached the court seeking to reinvestigate the case after rejecting this report.