THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF has decided to intensify its agitation demanding the resignation of Finance Minister K.M. Mani over the bargate with the evidence against him becoming stronger following the lie- detection test conducted on Biju Ramesh’s driver Ambili.
The LDF state committee will meet on May 31 to chalk out the next phase of agitation which Left leaders say will be decisive.
“The chief minister should not wait even for a moment to throw Mani out of the ministry. In case he does not remove him, the Governor should intervene in the matter,” CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told a press conference here on Monday.
He said a detailed probe was required against excise minister K. Babu after registration of a separate FIR. The statements given by the bar owners and the results of the lie detection test clearly indicated that bribery had taken place, he added.
Mr Kodiyeri said home minister Ramesh Chennithala’s statement also confirmed these reports.
“Under these circumstances, Mani cannot be exempted from the chargesheet. He has to be removed to show that rule of law prevailed in the state,” he said and added that Mr Mani and the bar owners were declining to undergo lie-detection test which made it amply clear that bribes had been paid.
He said the evidence available with the investigating agency indicated that the bribery scam involved Rs 24 crore of which Mr Mani got Rs 1 crore and Rs 10 crore was distributed among those recommended by Mr Babu.
He accused the excise minister of diluting the abkari rules to favour the bar owners. Following the closure of bars, Mr Babu had reached an understanding with the bar owners to provide them licences for operating beer and wine parlours.
He said the minister had diluted the abkari rules to the extent that local bodies’ permission was now not required. “All this was done to prevent the bar owners from revealing the truth. The government had also assured the bar owners that it would take a positive stand in the cases pending before the High Court,” the CPM leader said.
By offering such concessions, the government had managed to keep the evidence under the carpet till now. “The situation has changed drastically and it’s time for the bar owners to come out with all evidence against the minister,” he said.
Referring to Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan’s demand for a CBI probe into the Malabar Cements corruption, he said it was in line with the party’s stand on the issue.
