KOCHI: The Kerala High Court acquitted three accused including former minister M M Mani in the Anchery Baby murder case. The three were acquitted after accepting Mani’s discharge plea. Mani had earlier approached the sessions court with the discharge plea but it was rejected. With this, he moved the high court with the plea. O G Madanan and Pambupara Kuttan are the other two acquitted.

Baby Ancheri, Youth Congress Udumbanchola block secretary and INTUC constituency president, was murdered on November 13 in 1982. Baby was the third accused in the murder case of Mohandas, former local committee member of the CPM.

The court ordered re-investigation following Mani’s speech delivered on May 25 in 2012 at Manakkad in Idukki. Mani was accused in the case. Mani in his speech mentioned about the murders of Mathai and Nanappan along with Baby Anchery.

Soon after the court verdict, Mani responded by saying that he has got justice and that he had not seen Anchery Baby. Baby's brother responded that it was denial of justice. He said further steps would be taken in consultation with the party.