Bar-bribery: Opposition disrupts proceedings in the Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly adjourned for the day following Opposition protests over alleged bribe-taking by Excise Minster K. Babu.

The Opposition members moved into the well of the House and obstructed proceedings after the Speaker N. Sakthan refused permission to move an adjournment motion given notice of by Deputy Leader of CPI (M) Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to discuss alleged bribe-taking by Mr. Babu.

Mr. Balakrishanan said that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had closed the case against Mr. Babu, after a preliminary enquiry over the allegation that he had taken Rs. 10 crore as bribe, without registering an FIR. This was double standards as an FIR had been registered in a similar case against resigned Finance Minister K. M. Mani after quick verification. Thus the rule of law had been undermined.

Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan alleged that Ajayakumar, a member of the private staff of Mr. Babu, had carried out transactions involving crores of rupees at a branch of the Nedungadi Bank in Erankulam. The transactions were connected to bribe taken by Mr. Babu for reducing bar-licence fees.  A proper enquiry was not being conducted against Mr. Babu as that would lead to involvement of Mr. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also. The Opposition was to stage a sit-in in the House till a decision is taken in the matter.

As the Opposition continued shouting slogans, the Speaker rushed through the legislative business after cancelling call attentions and submissions. The House referred the Kerala Public Service Commission (Additional Functions as Respects Universities) Bill and the Payment of Wages (Kerala Amendment) Bill to the Subject Committee before the Speaker adjourned the House.

Earlier, responding to the notice for adjournment motion, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that no double standards had been followed in the case of vigilance enquiries against Mr. Mani and Mr.Babu. Quick verification and preliminary enquiry were the same. During quick verification on the allegations against Mr. Mani, none had come forward to adduce evidence. However, in the case of Mr. Babu, witnesses had come forward to refute the allegations. Hence, no FIR was registered.

Refuting the allegations against him, Mr. Babu said that he had acted in the best interests of the State in respect of fixing of licence fee for bars and had been 100 per cent honest. No corrections had been made to the Cabinet notes on fixing of the fee.

The LDF and BJP staged protests outside the Assembly complex demanding resignation of Mr. Babu.