Bar: Achuthanandan demands probe into role of former CM Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27 (PTI) CPI-M veteran V SAchutanandan today demanded a comprehensive probe into thealleged attempt to "sabotage" the bar bribery case during theprevious Congress-led UDF rule. His reaction came against the backdrop of aVigilance court ordering further probe into the case in whichKerala Congress(M) supremo and former Finance Minister K MMani is an accused The CPIM leader wanted the probe to look into role ofthen Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister RameshChennithala in "crippling" the case against Mani. In a statement issued here said Achuthanandan alsodemanded a criminal case be registered against IPS officerSankar Reddy, who was the Vigilance Director when a secondclosure report in the case was filed. Reddy is at presentDirector of State Crime Records Bureau.  "This perhaps would be the first instance of its kind thata Vigilance Director himself had tried to weaken the case andthis cannot be encouraged," he said, adding the officer shouldbe arrested and questioned. "…only then truth about the bar bribery case will comeout. In the previous Congress led UDF government, which wassteeped in corruption, Mani was a king without the crown. Thebar case cannot be sabotaged only with the intervention ofvigilance director. "It is very clear that there had been governmentintervention to change the course of investigation in thecase," he alleged.    Mani, who was part of UDF, has come out of the Frontrecently following differences with Congress over the bar scamissue.   Apparently referring to reports that Mani was warming upto BJP and also to CPI-M led LDF, Achutanandan said the rulingfront would not go along with anyone who "is tainted" withcorruption.   Mani and his party would soon be wiped out from Keralapolitics, the veteran leader claimed.   Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Kannam Rajendran saidVigilance Director was not alone behind the conspiracy toweaken the case. Chandy also needed to be investigated, he said adding anindependent and just probe was necessary to bring out thetruth. PTI UD JRK VS RCJKK