Accused bribed top political party

KOCHI: The accused in the LIS financial fraud case have paid an amount of Rs 1 crore to a leading political party through its newspaper unit to derail the investigation in the case. The state government, citing newspaper reports, submitted this before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday.The state made the submission on a petition filed by the Kochi Police Commissioner seeking a directive to postpone the examination of witnesses in the LIS case.Senior Assistant Public Prosecutor P A James  submitted that the accused are highly influential. They are trying to demoralise the  government officials and are exerting pressure on them to do unlawful activities. He further stated offering money to political parties is an interference with investigation.The counsel for the accused alleged interference of T P Senkumar, an IPS officer in the case.However, the prosecution submitted, “sincere and uncorrupted government officials including police personnel are always a target of criminal and bad politicians.”Prosecution pointed out that though the chargesheet was filed, the right of the investigating officer remains the same.“The police have started further investigation. Prior permission is not required from the court. The only requirement is an intimation to the court regarding the conduct of further investigation,” he said.During the hearing, the public prosecutor informed the court that the police had seized computer and accessories in 2006, for which analysis report from C-DAC is yet to come. That will be necessary to bring out the truth.Advocate M K Damodaran who appeared for the accused rejected the contentions of the public prosecutor. “The need for further investigation in the present case was initiated at the instigation of T P Senkumar. Further investigation is manifestly attended with mala fide and is maliciously instituted, Senkumar has written to the Chief Minister. As the Transport Commissioner he has no right to interfere in the case,” he argued.The hearing in the case will continue on Friday before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate.