<p>The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Tuesday countered bribery allegations against Finance Minister K M Mani and slammed the opposition for being “divided” on what kind of probe should be conducted.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan stuck to his demand for a CBI probe into the allegations, an “official” faction of his party, the CPM, has pitched for an investigation monitored by a court instead.<br /><br />Biju Ramesh, working president of the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association, had alleged that Mani – a veteran leader of the Kerala Congress (M) that is a powerful UDF constituent – had demanded Rs 5 crore to revoke a ban on substandard bars. Ramesh said bar owners had handed over Rs 1 crore to the minister. <br /><br />Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Achuthanandan had gone back on his original demand for a Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) probe. On Tuesday, the state government constituted a team of VACB officials under Superintendent of Police M Rajmohan to initiate a preliminary verification and a report is expected within three months.<br /><br />“Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered a preliminary inquiry based on a letter to the VACB director sent by the opposition leader. By demanding a CBI investigation now, he is contradicting himself,” Chandy told reporters in Kannur. <br /><br />Achuthanandan responded by slamming the state leadership and reiterating his demand for a CBI probe. <br /><br />The veteran CPM leader’s demand for a CBI probe had met a cold response within his own party and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan even went public with his apprehension about the CBI’s credentials. <br /><br />The CPM’s state secretariat will meet on Wednesday to formulate a consensus on the choice of the investigating authority . The CPI, meanwhile, has called for a judicial probe into the allegations.<br /></p>
<p>The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Tuesday countered bribery allegations against Finance Minister K M Mani and slammed the opposition for being “divided” on what kind of probe should be conducted.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan stuck to his demand for a CBI probe into the allegations, an “official” faction of his party, the CPM, has pitched for an investigation monitored by a court instead.<br /><br />Biju Ramesh, working president of the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association, had alleged that Mani – a veteran leader of the Kerala Congress (M) that is a powerful UDF constituent – had demanded Rs 5 crore to revoke a ban on substandard bars. Ramesh said bar owners had handed over Rs 1 crore to the minister. <br /><br />Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Achuthanandan had gone back on his original demand for a Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) probe. On Tuesday, the state government constituted a team of VACB officials under Superintendent of Police M Rajmohan to initiate a preliminary verification and a report is expected within three months.<br /><br />“Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered a preliminary inquiry based on a letter to the VACB director sent by the opposition leader. By demanding a CBI investigation now, he is contradicting himself,” Chandy told reporters in Kannur. <br /><br />Achuthanandan responded by slamming the state leadership and reiterating his demand for a CBI probe. <br /><br />The veteran CPM leader’s demand for a CBI probe had met a cold response within his own party and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan even went public with his apprehension about the CBI’s credentials. <br /><br />The CPM’s state secretariat will meet on Wednesday to formulate a consensus on the choice of the investigating authority . The CPI, meanwhile, has called for a judicial probe into the allegations.<br /></p>
