A high-level meeting of KC-M, the third largest partner in the UDF, held at the official residence of Mani expressed full solidarity with him and said there was no need for his resignation in view of the court order.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, state Water Resources Minister and senior party leader P J Joseph said the meeting discussed the issue and unanimously decided that Mani should not resign in the wake of court order.
The high court refused to grant an immediate stay on a recent Special Vigilance Court order for a further probe into the sensational bar bribery case in which an FIR has been filed against Mani over allegations that he received Rs one crore bribe from liquor bar owners for renewing licences.
During the hearing of the Vigilance petition challenging the special court order, Justice B Kemal Pasha also criticised the role of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau director in the case. The court posted the case to November 9 for next hearing.
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Governor P Sathasivam should intervene and "sack Mani from the Cabinet" in view of court observations, he said.
The case was filed against Mani last year after a 'quick verification' by the Vigilance on the allegations made by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners's Association working President Biju Ramesh.
Triggering a controversy, Ramesh had in October last alleged that Mani demanded Rs five crore as bribe from the association and accepted Rs one crore for renewal of licences of 470 Indian Made Foreign Liquor bars in the state.
The state also witnessed a series of agitations by CPI(M)-led LDF opposition demanding the resignation of Mani since the scam broke out.
The assembly had also witnessed unprecedented violence over the issue when LDF members tried to prevent Mani from presenting the budget on March 13 last.