THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting the LDF on the defensive, an audio record said to be that of hotelier Biju Ramesh, saying CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had assured him to reopen bars, came out on Monday. The clip is said to be from the CD submitted by Mr Ramesh along with his statement before the magistrate.
He was heard telling others who lost the license to serve liquor that the CPM secretary and other LDF leaders had offered to open all the bars if LDF came to power. He also says an assurance from Opposition leader VS was required so that the UDF government could be pulled down.
He even says that he was making efforts to get Mr Achuthanandan's assurance. It was in this audio clip that Mr Ramesh mentioned about his association with Vigilance SP R. Sukesan and that he had said former finance minister K.M. Mani would be charge-sheeted in the case.
Mr Ramesh told reporters that a minister asked him to give statements on the bribe charges against excise minister K. Babu.
Even while alleging that the audio leaked out was an edited version, he admitted that the CPM leader had said that the UDF government could be dislodged if the bribery charges against ministers were proved.
