Kerala bar bribery; Biju tame but drags in Congress ministers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after bar hotel owners had flung wild charges of graft against Finance Minister K M Mani, the crisis of sorts staring at the ruling UDF fizzled out on Friday as hotel owners retracted from their positions.

However, Kerala Bar Hotels Association working president Biju Ramesh added to the mess, telling a TV channel that Congress ministers had also taken bribes.

The earliest hint of an overnight deal between UDF leaders and Kerala Bar Hotels Association came on Friday morning with Excise Minister K Babu and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy daring Mr Biju

Ramesh to name the bribe recipients.

Soon after, Mr Ramesh, while returning from the Vigilance office here, told reporters that the Rs 1 crore handed over to Mr Mani was not in connection with the bar closure.

"There was no hint of the closure then", he said, referring to March-April when the money was allegedly handed over. Mr Ramesh is understood to have handed over details of money transactions, hotel bills and names of Association members who gave the hard currency notes to Mr Mani at his residence twice in Pala and once in Thiruvananthapuram.  

"Evidences pertaining to the payment of up to Rs 20 crore will be handed over by the bar hotel association office-bearers," said Mr Ramesh, after the quizzing by a team, led by Vigilance SP M Rajamohan and DySP S Suresh Kumar. However, the most telling somersault was by Aroor-based bar owner Manoharan, who had claimed on camera clear knowledge of those who bribed the Minister.   
“Last Friday, following the High Court verdict, giving us one more month to function, we celebrated and had a few pegs. It was in such a situation that I endorsed Biju Ramesh's allegation and it was based on a friend's advice. I have informed the Vigilance that my allegations were false," Mr Manoharan told media on Friday.