Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau noose on K Babu

Thiruvananthapuram:  The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a case against former excise minister K. Babu in connection with the alleged corruption in issuing bar licences. According to sources, Vigilance central range which conducted a quick verification submitted a report to the Vigilance director Jacob Thomas  stating that prima facie there was corruption which warranted registering a case.

Mr  Jacob Thomas has  received a positive  legal opinion on the matter, following which  a first information report was filed at the Muvattupuzha vigilance court on Thursday. The quick verification was ordered last month on the basis of a petition given by Kerala Bar Hotel Industries Association leader and industrialist V.M. Radhakrishnan alleging irregularities in granting bar licences, relaxing norms for issuing licences and in framing the liquor policy.

It may be recalled that the Vigilance had earlier conducted a quick verification into various allegations, including bribery, raised by  bar owner Biju Ramesh, but concluded that there was no evidence to register a case. Mr. Radhakrishnan, who is  known to have  close connections with a section of top CPM leaders, alleged that the previous government had taken off powers for issuing fresh licences from the excise commissioner  to indulge in corrupt practices.