Headlines
Mani should also undergo lie detector test: CPI-M
Thiruvananthapuram, May 25
Reiterating its
demand for the resignation of state Finance Minister K.M. Mani for
allegedly accepting a bribe from bar owners, the CPI-M on Monday said
that he too should undergo a lie detector test.
In case Mani did
not resign, the Kerala Governor should see to it that the minister was
removed, Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary Kodiyeri
Balakrishnan said.
The fresh demand for Mani's resignation and
lie detector test came in the wake of media reports on Sunday that a
similar test on the driver of whistle-blower bar owner Biju Ramesh last
week had confirmed the veracity of his earlier statement given to the
state vigilance department.
"With driver Ambili's statement
during a lie detector test and submitted to the court now out in the
open, it is clear that he said what he earlier stated before the
vigilance department. So, Mani should resign, and if he does not, the
Kerala governor should see that he is removed," said Balakrishnan.
Ambili
is said to have told the vigilance department last month that he saw
Kerala Bar Hotel Association president D. Rajkumar Unni handing over
money to Mani at his official residence here.
On the other hand, Mani said he had nothing to say since the vigilance probe was on.
"I do not have anything to say and it is also not proper for me to say also," Mani told reporters.
His
party's leaders were angry as to how a highly confidential report
submitted in the court as part of the probe surfaced in the media.
State
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said it was most surprising that the
report was out in the media. "The origin of the leak will be probed,"
said Chennithala.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, V.S.
Achuthanandan, said that Mani's party and his leaders are now coming out
with lame excuses and wish to find the origin of the leak.
"Please
quit and do not test the patience of the people anymore. All evidence
is against him now and if the Vigilance conducts a lie detector test on
him, all his shady deals will come out; so it's best that he quits at
the earliest," said Achuthanandan.
Meanwhile, with the vigilance
expected to submit its probe report at end of this month, all eyes are
on what is in store for Mani.