THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader VD Satheesan said that bar owners and the government colluded to overturn the decision to collect tax dues and that those who took the bribe should be investigated.

"The opposition has constantly pointed out in the assembly that the government has failed to collect tax dues from bars. The government has admitted that it has failed. Yet the decision to collect dues was overturned by the government itself. The government has stopped serving liquor to non-paying bars. But media reports say that this decision was withdrawn due to pressure from the bar owners."

"The bar owners knew in advance that the government would withdraw the decision. Information is also coming out that the bar owners have collected money among themselves in order to make a favourable decision. This points to massive corruption. Who took bribe from the bar owners to withdraw the decision by the government? Ministers and political leadership are under suspicion. The Chief Minister should be ready to order an inquiry into this."

"There is at least Rs 300 crore in tax arrears to be collected from the bars. The government is not sincere in collecting arrears even in the face of severe economic crisis. There is no accurate check on the turnover of the bars. The official figure of the government is given by the bar owners. When this is added, the losses will increase again. The finance department itself is causing a loss of crores to the exchequer through its unholy alliance with the bar owners.'. VD Satheesan added.