Two more Kerala ministers accused of bribery

Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan on Monday alleged that two more ministers in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government have accepted bribes from bar owners to offer favourable decisions.

Speaking after inaugurating the Left Democratic Front Secretariat here, Achuthanandan demanded resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Finance Minister K M Mani. He said Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Excise Minister K Babu had also accepted bribes from the bar owners.

Mani is already facing a Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) probe into bribery allegations made by Bar Hotel Owners Association working president Biju Ramesh. “Chandy, Mani, Chennithala and Babu should step down and face a probe,” the CPM veteran said.

The LDF on Monday commenced another round of agitations demanding resignation of the scam-hit Mani and the chief minister who is set to be questioned as a witness by a judicial commission investigating the solar panel fraud.

Chennithala refuted the opposition leader’s allegations. He said Achuthanandan was settling scores in the backdrop of arrests of CPM workers.