Bar owners seek more time; depose or not

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bar hotels owners, including office bearers of Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association, have sought more time form Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to give their statement in the bargate scam.

The VACB team probing the bargate case against Finance Minister K M Mani had sent notices to eight bar hotel owners asking them to appear earlier this week and give their statement. However none of them had appeared, leading to allegations of attempt to sabotage the probe.

According to sources, some of the bar owners had called on vigilance officials and sought more time to give statement citing persons inconvenience. VACB is likely to wait for some time before initiating steps to summon the key witnesses through court.

The association president Raj Kumar Unni had already informed the vigilance that he was unwell and hence may be allowed ten days.

Association general secretary Dhanesh and Thiruvananthapuram based bar owner Sunil were the others who had sought more time, said sources.