Bar bribery case: Biju Ramesh turns against CM, probe halted after Mani met Pinarayi, revelations against Chennithala also

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hotelier Biju Ramesh Monday said that he is firm in his allegation in the bar bribery scam. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who asked me to stick to my stand changed his word later, alleged Biju Ramesh. I had met Kodiyeri Balakrishnan when they threatened to take false case against me and Pinarayi asked me not to withdraw. I am not getting justice. The probe in the bar bribery case came to a halt after K M Mani called on the chief minister, he said.

He said the communist party does not have the old ideological purity. Tried to destroy me mentally and financially. The vigilance inquiry is a farce. The central agencies should investigate the bar scam. The affidavits of 36 including MLAs and ministers submitted during elections were incorrect. When I revealed this to the chief minister then, he asked me keep it in my hand, he said.

‘I gave in writing to the vigilance that Jose K Mani tried to influence me. However, they told me that they don’t have the authority to investigate all these. A competent agency should investigate the case. He said that everyone is aware of the old financial condition of Ramesh Chennithala and his present state,’ he said.

Biju Ramesh said Chennithala’s wife had asked him not to harass her husband. She told me that he had not eaten anything at night, did not sleep and did not even have a cup of coffee in the morning. I told her that I will not harm him and kept the phone. That is why I did not give statement against him, said Biju Ramesh.

The hotelier said Chennithala called him later. Chennithala later turned against me and ordered a crime branch probe. KPCC chief is the determining factor in the Congress. Chennithala received the money as part of a share of the business. He said that governor's permission is not required for the probe and the government itself can order the probe, he said.

He said lakhs were looted in five years. Will cooperate with the probe. The vigilance have found that money was collected for bar deal but where the money went should be probed, he said.

Radhakrishnan and Santhosh went to give money to Chennithala. When they gave him the money, he asked them to keep it inside. He didn’t even smile after accepting the money. Rs one crore was given to Chennithala.

If K Babu, Chennithala and Sivakumar file a case against me, I will have to face them. A cheque of Rs 1.80 crore was given to the advocate. When the case is in the Supreme Court, has to pay Rs 12 lakh per day. For that, an advocate has to go from here or should assign a senior advocate from there.

During the last tenure of the UDF government, the case was in the Supreme Court for four or five consecutive days. Kapil Sibal was their advocate. 22 including the chief secretary and AG had gone to Delhi to conduct the case. So many people going to conduct the case is a first incident. Whey they assign Kapil Sibal to conduct the case, our advocate should also be equally efficient, he said.