Thiruvananthapuram: The liquor bar bribery case in Kerala got murkier on Monday, with state home minister Ramesh Chennithala revealing that he was under pressure while handling the case.
The minister’s shock revelation came during his response to an adjournment motion demand by the opposition Left Democratic Front. However, the minister did not reveal the names of those who were behind such pressure tactics.
Chennithala said he was under pressure from the Congress and the UDF coalition, and added that he withstood the pressures brought on him. He said it was his “well-considered decision” not to interfere with the investigation into the bar bribery case, and that he faced intense pressure because of that stance.
The home minister made the comments first on social media, which prompted the opposition to demand an adjournment motion on the matter when the state assembly reconvened on Monday. The House witnessed uproarious scenes as the opposition demanded that the minister reveal the names of those who pressurised him to thwart the investigation.
The liquor bar bribery case has roiled the ruling United Democratic Front ever since the Kerala State Bar Owners’ Association working president Biju Ramesh alleged that bribes had been given to finance minister K.M. Mani and excise minister K. Babu. Both ministers vehemently denied the allegation.
Last week, the vigilance department decided not to proceed with a charge sheet for K.M. Mani in the case. This evoked strong protest from the opposition, with Communist Party of India Marxist state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan saying that his party would move the courts if Mani was not charged.
The home minister’s comments come a day ahead of the verdict in the Aruvikkara assembly by-election, where the ruling UDF and the opposition LDF are locked in a keen battle. The BJP is also in the fray, with veteran leader O. Rajagopal contesting against Congressman G. Sabarinath and CPM’s M. Vijayakumar.
The by-election was necessitated by the demise of Sabarinath’s father and former speaker, G. Karthikeyan. However, political analysts say that a sympathy wave is unlikely for Sabarinath, given the intensity of the political contest at Aruvikkara.
