Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has demanded registration of FIR against Excise Minister K. Babu in the light of Bar Owners’ Association leader Biju Ramesh’s allegation that he had taken bribe from the bar owners.
In a statement here on Tuesday, Mr. Achuthanandan said action should be initiated against Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar as well. Mr. Ramesh had submitted evidence before a magistrate against Mr. Babu, Mr. Sivakumar and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. The evidences submitted by Mr. Ramesh, as instructed by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), was a slap in the face for United Democratic Front leaders who had been asking evidence to prove the bar bribery charges, he said.
Mr. Achuthanandan said he had himself submitted CDs relating to Mr. Ramesh’s allegations to the VACB Director on March 28 and sought filing of FIR against them. Delay in registering the FIR against them was a challenge to the Constitution and the rule of law.
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The allegations that K.B. Ganesh Kumar, MLA, placed before the Kerala Lok Ayukta against Public Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju were also serious. The Minister’s attempt was to evade the charges with flimsy arguments. The Chief Minister should initiate steps to keep the Ministers facing corruption charges out of the Cabinet and order investigation into the charges, the Opposition leader said.