THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise Minister K Babu met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday following Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau’s decision to order a Quick Verification (QV) into the allegations that he had received Rs 10 crore bribe from bar owners.
Ernakulam Special Unit of the Vigilance will conduct the QV into the allegations. The probe decision has been taken on the basis of a report filed by SP (SIU-1) R S Sukesan.
Sources said the Ernakulam unit was entrusted with the QV as the alleged bribe had been paid in a place coming within their jurisdiction. However, there were also reports that the preliminary probe was handed over to Ernakulam unit following allegations that SP (SIU 1) was close to the minister.
The QV is being conducted on the basis of the statement given by Bar owner Biju Ramesh under CPC 164 in which he stated bar owner Krishnadas had handed over the bribe to Babu.
The bar license fee was reduced from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 23 lakh and the minister had even assured that the government would not file appeal against any court order in favour of the bars, he alleged.
