Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government's vigilance department has begun a preliminary inquiry against Finance Minister K M Mani, over allegations that he took a bribe of Rs. 1 crore as part of a deal to renew the licenses of 418 bars that were closed.
Mr Mani is a leader of Kerala Congress (M), a key ally in the Congress-led ruling coalition.
Biju Ramesh, chief of the Kerala Hotels and Bar Association, had alleged in a TV show on a regional channel recently that he was asked for a bribe of Rs. 5 crore in return for renewal of licenses of the bars. Mr Ramesh further alleged that he paid part of the sum - Rs. 1 crore - to Mr Mani.
The government and bar owners across the state are locked in a legal battle over the new "no-liquor" policy that aims to achieve complete prohibition in the state in a phased manner. The Chief Minister had, in August, announced that over 700 bars across the state will have to shut down, adding that only five-star hotels would be allowed to keep serving liquor.
In an interim relief for bar owners, a division bench of the court on Friday, October 31, allowed 312 bars to remain open for a month but ordered status quo to be maintained for the 418 bars.
Mr Mani is a leader of Kerala Congress (M), a key ally in the Congress-led ruling coalition.
Biju Ramesh, chief of the Kerala Hotels and Bar Association, had alleged in a TV show on a regional channel recently that he was asked for a bribe of Rs. 5 crore in return for renewal of licenses of the bars. Mr Ramesh further alleged that he paid part of the sum - Rs. 1 crore - to Mr Mani.
The government and bar owners across the state are locked in a legal battle over the new "no-liquor" policy that aims to achieve complete prohibition in the state in a phased manner. The Chief Minister had, in August, announced that over 700 bars across the state will have to shut down, adding that only five-star hotels would be allowed to keep serving liquor.
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In an interim relief for bar owners, a division bench of the court on Friday, October 31, allowed 312 bars to remain open for a month but ordered status quo to be maintained for the 418 bars.
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