Bar bribery case: Pinarayi seeks probe against K. Babu

Kozhikode: CPI(M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday sought a probe against Excise Minister K. Babu in the wake of bar owner Biju Ramesh giving a statement against three more ministers who were also involved in the bar bribery scam.

“A probe should be conducted into minster K. Babu’s involvement in the bar bribery scam in the wake of Biju Ramesh’s new revelations. What has now come out in the open are a few and more are yet to be out in the case,” Pinarayi told reporters at a press conference here.

“It should also be probed against the two other ministers who were named by Biju Ramesh in his revelations,” he said.

Biju Ramesh, who last year alleged Finance Minister K.M. Mani took a bribe of Rs. 1 crore, appeared before a magistrate yesterday and gave a statement, alleging that three more Congress ministers, including Excise Minister K Babu, were also involved in the scam.

"All along when I raised the bribe charges, I was challenged from several quarters to give evidence. I today had an in-camera sitting and the magistrate took my 30-page statement. I have not only said but also given audio evidence to substantiate my allegations which include not just Mani but three other state ministers also," said Ramesh soon after he emerged after a three-and-a-half hours session before the magistrate.

He said he had full faith in the judiciary. "First I was threatened, then when I failed to yield, they started cajoling me requesting me not to appear before the magistrate to give the statement. Now I feel a lot relieved that I have done my job. I did this so as to help the investigation that's already going on in the case," he said.