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Give details of ‘bribe’, says Kerala minister

Ramesh said evidence will be collected by the association and would be submitted later. He said Mani was paid Rs 1 crore before the bar issue came up.

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A day after bar owners alleged that they paid around Rs 20 crore as ‘bribe’ to several ministers, the state government Friday asked them to divulge the details for establishing their charge.

Reacting to the allegations, Kerala Excise Minister K Babu said that all parties have received funds from bar owners during elections. “Let the bar owners reveal the names of leaders who have taken the money. We have nothing to hide,” said Babu.

A day ago, bar owners had threatened the state government that they would reveal the details of ‘bribe’ paid to various ministers over the last three years. Biju who had levelled bribery charges against minister K M Mani earlier, however, did not give any evidence to prove his allegation.

Ramesh said evidence will be collected by the association and would be submitted later. He said Mani was paid Rs 1 crore before the bar issue came up.

It may be noted that in the meeting of bar owners, Ramesh had told the members that by hitting Mani with corruption charges, half of their job was over.

Biju Ramesh, the president of Kerala Bar Owners’ Association, had recently accused Mani of Rs 5 crore bribe for renewing licenses. He even claimed that Rs 1 crore has already been paid to Mani.

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  • K Babu Kerala bar owners Kerala bars
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