The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Friday recorded the statement of Kerala Bar Hotels' Association (KBHA) working president Biju Ramesh, who claimed that bar hotel owners had paid Finance Minister K.M. Mani a bribe of Rs.1 crore for renewal of expired liquor retail licences.
Mr. Biju said there was proof to back his claim that he was privy to the alleged secret payoff made to Mr. Mani by representatives of the KBHA at the Minister’s private residence in Pala in April.
Soon, a uniformed officer whisked Mr. Biju away to the cabin of the investigating officer where Vigilance enforcers recorded his statement for the next three hours. Emerging out of the office at around 2 p.m., Mr. Biju told waiting newspersons that he stood by his accusation and there was no question of any compromise with anybody.
The alleged bribe was paid prior to the closure of 418 “substandard” bars in April, he said.
In Kochi, Excise Minister K. Babu challenged Mr. Biju to reveal the names of the “ruling front” leaders who had accepted money.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said in Kannur that he saw an “international conspiracy” to derail the government’s new liquor policy that aimed at total prohibition.
In Kollam, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said no information about the alleged payoff was ever going to come to light as all political parties received funds from bar hoteliers.
