KOCHI/ Thiruvananthapuram: In a shocking twist to the State’s bar bribe scam, Kerala Bar Owners Association working president Biju Ramesh claimed at its executive meeting in Kochi on Thursday that he had material sufficient to topple the Government and that Rs 20 crore had been paid as bribe during the last three to four years.
The meeting authorised a five-member committee, headed by association general secretary M.D. Dhanesh, to firm up evidence on the allegations.
In related developments, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Finance Minister K M Mani met Advocate –General K P Dandapani in Aluva and the High Court rejected a plea to order a CBI probe into the scam. Mr Biju Ramesh has been summoned to appear before the Vigilance here on Friday.
Mr Ramesh cautioned his colleagues against falling for any settlement offers coming from the Government. He vowed to forge ahead and stay the whole course with the cooperation of the association.
Excerpts from Mr Biju Ramesh’s speech, recorded in a sting and telecast by a Malayalam news channel, referred to huge bribes paid to the UDF Government.
