Kochi: The High Court Monday declined to monitor at this stage the vigilance probe into the bar bribery case allegedly involving Finance Minister K M Mani.
Considering a petition filed by an NGO --All Kerala Anti Corruption and Human Rights Protection council' of Palakkad--, the Court made it clear that monitoring of bar bribary case will not be done by it at this stage.
The NGO had sought the High Court's monitoring of the probe on the ground that the person against whom the investigation is on was a Minister.
When the petition came up for hearing, Advocate General K P Dandapani submitted that the investigation by vigilance is in progress and at present there is no need for court monitoring.
Justice P Ubaid adjourned the case for three weeks for further consideration.
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered a case against Mani in December last year in connection with the allegation that he had accepted bribe from a bar hotel owner to renew liquor licence.
Mani, who is named as the first accused, termed the case as an outcome of a political conspiracy. The Opposition has demanded his resignation.