THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving a breather to Finance Minister K.M. Mani, bar owner John Kallat on Monday denied the allegations that the bar owners had bribed Mr. Mani.
Mr John gave his statement before the Lok Ayukta here on a petition filed in connection with the bar bribery case by one Khalid Mundapally and said he had handed over Rs 15 lakh received from Kottayam -based bar owner Saju Dominic to Kerala Bar Hotel Owners' Association president Rajkumar Unni.
To the best of his knowledge, Mr Unni had taken money to the association office in Kochi. He also added that he had no information regarding any bar owner bribing Mr Mani.
It may be recalled that bar owner Saju had earlier stated before the Lok Ayukta that he had handed over Rs 15 lakh to the association state treasurer Thankachan and bar owner John Kallat near Mr Mani's house at Pala on March 22, 2014 and that the two had gone inside Mr Mani's house with the money.
Though Mr Rajkumar was also given notice to appear on Monday, he sought one-month time stating that he was busy with his son's college admission. The Lok Ayukta allowed the plea.
Sources said that Mr Kallat had close links with Mr Mani and that there would be no surprise if he suppressed the facts in favour of Mr Mani.
