Monday blues for Mani as VACB taxes him with fresh graft cases

K.M. Mani

Kottayam: The vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) on Monday began probe into yet another corruption case against former Kerala finance minister K.M. Mani.

The VACB has filed FIR against the Kerala Congress (M) chief on a complaint that he caused loss to the tune of Rs 1.66 crore to the state exchequer by offering tax relaxation to a lead oxide manufacturing unit.

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A preliminary probe conducted by Vigilance Kottayam unit SP, S. Asok Kumar, had concluded that Mani misused his power to help Benny Abraham, the owner of Super Pigmens at Kurichy. Benny has also been named as an accused in the case.

The complaint was filed by Pala native George C. Kappen.

Earlier in the day, the Thiruvananthapuram vigilance court ordered a quick verification against Mani over a complaint that he used bribe money he received from the bar owners to conduct a mass wedding in Kottayam in 2014.