Kerala HC: Pending plea no hassle for VACB probe against KM Mani
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday observed that appeals pending against the Single Judge order dismissing petitions to quash the FIR against former finance minister K M Mani and others in the ‘tax concession’ case would not come in the way of conducting a VACB probe into the case.
While dismissing petitions filed by poultry farmers involved in the case, the Single Judge had held that the matter needed to be investigated in detail by the VACB.
As per the FIR, Mani abused his position and hatched a criminal conspiracy with the poultry farmers to stay proceedings initiated to recover Rs 65 crores in tax arrears from the farmers. It was also alleged that two Sales Tax Deputy Commissioners (Appeal) who probed the tax evasion case were transferred to favour the farmers.