Catholic association supports Minister facing bribery charges

Kerala Latin Catholic Association, Diocesse of Neyyatinkara near here, has come out in support of state Finance Minister K M Mani against whom allegation of corruption has been raised by Kerala Bar Owners Association over the bar licence issue.
An attempt was being made to sabotage the new liquor policy by targetting Mani and this was highly condemnable, Bishop of Neyyatinkara Vincent Samual said today while inaugurating the General Council of the KLCA.
Association president Biju Ramesh had alleged that Mani demanded a hefty sum as bribe from bar owners for helping them to open 418 bars shut down earlier this year for want of required facilities.

Kerala High Court last week stayed a single judge's decision upholding the state government's decision to close down bars, and permitted 250 bars attached to hotels below four-star category to function for a month.
The new liquor policy proposes to close down bars except attached to Five-Star Hotel cateogry and aims to bring total prohibition in the state in another ten years time.
KLCA also asked government to file appeal against the division bench order, a release said here.