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Kerala bar bribery: CPM accused of assurance to open bars

Reacting to the allegation, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he had not met Ramesh as alleged in the audio. He claimed that the audio of conversation was edited at the behest of an additional director-general of police.

By: Express News Service | Thiruvananthapuram |
February 9, 2016 2:05:32 am

An audio recording surfaced Monday with Kerala bar hotel owners association president Biju Ramesh purportedly being heard on tape talking about an assurance from the CPM to open all closed liquor bars if the LDF was voted to power. Ramesh had allegedly shared details about the ‘CPM promise’ during a meeting with bar hotel owners in December, 2014.

Further, in the purported conversation, which is reportedly a part of evidence submitted in the court as part of the bar bribery scandal probe, Ramesh is heard informing his business colleagues that he had discussed the matter with CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who assured him that bars will be reopened if LDF wins the next elections. Ramesh also claimed speaking to politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan about the issue.

Reacting to the allegation, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he had not met Ramesh as alleged in the audio. He claimed that the audio of conversation was edited at the behest of an additional director-general of police.