Kerala bars now turn into beer-wine parlours

In a major embarrassment to the UDF, KM Mani was booked by Vigilance and ACB in the bar bribe scam

As part of the state government revised abkari policy, 180 bars across Kerala that had remained closed for the last nine months opened afresh as beer-wine parlours from today.

The state excise department has received 269 applications of which, it sanctioned permission to 180 to open as beer-wine parlours within seven days. The department said the rest of the applicants would be cleared within two days.

The government, in last August,  announced its new liquor policy aimed at implementing prohibition in phases over the next decade. As part of the  policy, it decided to get all the bars, except those attached to five-star hotels, closed.  It also recommended to close 10 per cent of the outlets of Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) and Kerala State Co-operative Consumers Federation (Consumerfed), every year. Thus, on October 2, 37 outlets were closed.

The government had earlier  decided to close 418 bars, which did not have the required standard according to the direction from the high court. Later,  the UDF high-power committee recommended to close all the bars in the state, leading to total prohibition by 2024.  

The decision came in view of strong demand from churches and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest constituent in the UDF, for prohibition.  

Two more ministers got bribe from bar owners : VS Achuthanandan

Meanwhile,  Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan today  alleged home minister Ramesh Chennithala and excise minister K  Babu had received bribes from bar owners.

“The two other ministers who had received bribes from the bar owners were Ramesh Chennithala and K Babu. They should step down and face the probe,” he said while addressing a rally organised by the LDF in front of the secretariat.

Earlier, Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association working  president Biju Ramesh had alleged that besides KM Mani, two other ministers had also accepted bribe from them.

Talking to reporters in Thrissur, Chennithala, however, refuted Achuthanandan’s charges. “I did not involve in any matter related to the bar bribe case. He should substantiate the allegations,” he said.

In a major embarrassment to the Congress-led UDF government, KM Mani was booked by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in the bar bribe scam.

The case was registered on the basis of statements given by some of those questioned by investigators as part of a preliminary inquiry into the allegation that he had taken a hefty sum as bribe from bar owners for decisions favourable to them. Biju Ramesh today said all the ministers, except two had accepted bribe from them.