THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If the Vigilance takes a decision not to file chargesheet against Finance Minister KM Mani in the bar bribery scam, the proceedings that have already been set in motion may continue as there are many other legal options available for the complainant. Legal experts point out that there are options that the judge could direct the investigating agency to further probe the matter as was seen in the palmolein case.
In the palmolein case, the Vigilance in its report had given a clean chit to Oommen Chandy. However, the Vigilance Court had rejected the report and ordered further investigation.
Legal expert Kaleeshwaram Raj opined that the complainant can set the law in motion if he finds that the final report of the Vigilance is vicious. “One can set the law in motion if there are legally sustainable grounds to challenge the final report,” he said.
However, one should have to wait for the final report. And only after analysing it can one say it is vicious or not, he said.
Pointing out that the complainant had several options to further the case, Sasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, a leading criminal lawyer, said that according to Section 173 of the Code of Criminal procedures, the investigating agency can either file a final report putting the accused for trial or file a referral report stating that no case is made out against the accused.