Crime Branch case against police officer who probed bar bribery

Thiruvananthapuram: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a crime branch probe against Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) R. Sukesan and Bar Hotel Owners Association leader Biju Ramesh for allegedly conspiring to implicate Ministers in bar bribery.

The order was issued on the basis of a report of Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau citing audio recordings submitted by Mr. Ramesh before a magistrate court as evidence of crime. The recording, according to Vigilance Police, has Mr. Ramesh saying that Mr. Sukesan had told him to talk to media implicating four more ministers while probing bribery charges against Mr. Mani.

However, Mr. Ramesh maintained that what he had said was being taken out of context. Mr. Sukesan had declined to record his testimony against four ministers saying that his enquiries were confined to involvement of Finance Minister Mr. Mani. Mr. Sukesan had told him that he could either file separate complaints against the Minister or make statements before media when asked about next course of action before him.

Besides Mr. Sukesan and  Mr. Ramesan, a few Opposition leaders may also be implicated in the alleged conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the Vigilance Bureau has concluded after a quick verification that the allegation made by Ramesan against Excise Minister K. Babu was baseless. Withdrawals from banks and details of the allegation did not tally. 

(updated)