Biju Ramesh also reiterated the charge that ’25 lakh was given to Health Minister V S Sivakumar ahead of the Neyyatinkara by-election.
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Whistle-blower bar owner Biju Ramesh on Monday opened a new can of worms in Kerala, alleging that Rs. 2 crore was paid to then state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and Rs. 25 lakh to Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar as bribes. The money was not given for any favour done but was given so that no problems occur later, he said.
Chennithala said the KPCC never accepted any fund without receipt. Biju Ramesh also denied any links between bar owners and solar scam accused Saritha S Nair.
“We (bar owners) handed over the money to Chennithala at his office in the state party headquarters and it was given to see that government policies when taken will not affect the bar owners”.
When the bar bribery scandal had emerged past year, bar owners had leaked out their recorded conversations indicating that Chennithala and Sivakumar had taken bribe.
Stating that all political parties, including Congress, function by accepting donations from public, he said, “Donations are accepted in KPCC by issuing receipts”. The accounts after auditing are informed to all constitutional organizations including the election commission.
“The party has not received money from anyone upon the insistence of the chief minister nor any other minister, for that matter”.
“However, she did not deliver the proof, but said the CD was in Tamil Nadu”.
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The liquor baron, whose revelations of bribery led to the resignation of former finance minister K M Mani past year and nearly cost Excise Minister K Babu his post, said the money for Sivakumar was handed over through a member of the minister’s staff. Both leaders denied the charge.
