Bar bribery case: HC closes plea seeking further probe against Babu

Kochi: The High Court Monday closed a petition seeking further probe against Excise Minister K Babu in the bar bribery case.

Dismissing two PILs, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and A M Shaffique, observed that further probe into the bar bribery case following the single bench order is yet to start so there is no need for the High Court to interfere at this stage.

The petitioners sought to probe the case on the basis of statement by bar hotel owners' Association Working President Biju Ramesh accusing Babu of accepting bribe.

"Further investigation is yet to take place and it is not necessary to entertain PILs and issue directions," the bench said.

However, if the petitioners are aggrieved, they can approach the Vigilance Court, the court said.

The bench had earlier asked government to inform it what action it had taken pursuant to the order of further probe in a case by a Vigilance Court, Thiruvananthapuram.