Biju’s allegations against Mani was to threaten UDF govt, says Vigilance report

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has submitted its report in the Vigilance court stating that bar owner Biju Ramesh raised the allegations against the ministers as he had feared of a huge financial loss due to the government’s liquor policy.

Vigilance SP R.Sukeshan in his 76 page report said Biju raised the charges against the ministers including former finance minister K.M Mani in order to threaten the government for its stand on the renewal of the bar licence.

“The bar owners had a loss of Rs.509.59 crore per year after the new liquor policy had come into effect. Biju Ramesh had suffered a loss of Rs. 7.44 crore due to the liquor policy. That was the reason why he raised the charges against Mani,” the report says.

“There were inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies. It was found discrepancy in the CD submitted by Biju,” Sukeshan said in the report.