Bar scandal: Kerala’s Excise Minister K. Babu withdraws resignation

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Excise Minister K Babu on Saturday withdrew his resignation after the ruling Congress-led UDF refused to accept it.

Earlier, K Babu had resigned after a vigilance court in Thrissur had asked the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case against him in connection with a bar bribery scandal.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy maintained there was no need for Babu to resign as the high court had stayed proceedings of the vigilance court against him for two months.

The enquiry has been ordered based on a complaint filed by social activist George Vattukulam.

As per his complaint, bar owner Biju Ramesh had alleged Minister Babu had demanded Rs. 10 crores as bribe from the bar owners for reopening the bars after the state government had decided to close them down.

Biju Ramesh had also stated publicly that the bar owners had paid Rs. 50 lakhs as advance to the minister on October 31 last year. (ANI)