No revenue loss on new liquor policy: Minister

Finance minister KM Mani, in the Assembly, terms bribe allegations against him politically-motivated

Kerala excise minister K Babu today told the Assembly the state exchequer had not suffered any financial loss on account of the new liquor policy.

"Liquor consumption in the state has come down following the new policy. But it did not cause any financial loss to the state exchequer even as the government steeply increased taxes on liquor," Babu said.

He, however, said sales at the outlets of the Beverages Corporation (Bevco) had increased 40 per cent on Saturdays. This is due to the state government's decision to observe 'Dry Day' on every Sunday as part of the new liquor policy. According to him, Saturday sales at Bevco outlets have gone up to Rs 38 crore.

The minister was replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition raising the bar issue. He said Bevco outlets on the national and the state highways would be closed in a phased manner. The move is in accordance with a latest order from the Kerala high court.

Seizing upon the matter of bribery charges against finance minister KM Mani in the bar hotels issue, the Opposition parties displayed banners and placards demanding his resignation.

Earlier in the session, deputy leader of the Opposition, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, released more evidences against Mani in the bar bribe case. He alleged Mani had received Rs 1 crore in three installments from bar hotel owners at his official residence in Thiruvananthapuram.

He further alleged the cash was brought to his residence on April 2 by the driver of Biju Ramesh, who is the working president of Kerala Bar Hotels Owners Association. It was Ramesh, who first had raised the allegation through a local channel.

However, Mani denied all bribe allegations leveled against him and said they were politically motivated aimed at thwarting the UDF government. Later, the Opposition staged a walkout from.