Second bar bribery controversy: Crime Branch issues notice to Thiruvanchoor's son Arjun

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch has issued a notice to Arjun Radhakrishnan, the son of Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, asking him to appear in person for questioning in connection with the second bar bribery controversy. According to the Crime Branch, Arjun is the admin of the WhatsApp group of the bar owners in which the controversial voice clip was shared. Arjun has been asked to appear in the Crime Branch office in Jawahar Nagar on Friday.

Although the Crime Branch tried to serve the notice to Arjun by going to his home in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, Arjun did not receive it. He refused to accept the notice saying that he does not own or run any bars. Following this, the Crime Branch sent the notice via email. Arjun is currently not the admin of the WhatsApp group. However, he is still a member of this group, the police said.

Arjun was found to be a member of the group when the Crime Branch recorded the statements of the bar owners and checked the WhatsApp group. This finding prompted the officials to issue a notice to him. Arjun Radhakrishnan's father-in-law owns a bar. The police conclude that Arjun became a member of the group in this way. The Crime Branch is conducting the investigation based on the complaint lodged by Excise Minister MB Rajesh with the DGP.

Police should clarify which number of mine is there in the group: Arjun
Meanwhile, Arjun is claiming that he is not a member of the WhatsApp group of bar owners. "The police should clarify which number of mine is there in the WhatsApp group. As per my knowledge, I am not a member of any such group. The police and the government should produce evidence. Police have not issued any notice. Some officials called me over the phone and said that they would come to my house to know some details. I am not a member of the organisation of bar owners. Then how can I be a member of their WhatsApp group? My wife's family has been running a hotel business for several years. Someone else is now running that hotel. I have nothing to do with that hotel," Arjun said.