The working President of Bar Hotels Association of Kerala, Biju Ramesh, has said that he stands by his allegations of bribery against the state's Finance Minister K. M. Mani.
Ramesh had accused Mani of seeking a bribe of Rs. 50 million from him, of which an amount of Rs. 10 million has already been paid.
"All the details I have already disclosed to the officers, to the Vigilance Department and also the supporting documents also I am handing over today evening also."
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, had dismissed graft allegations against Mani and called the accusations baseless. He said that Mani has been part of politics for the past 50 years and is among the most respected people in the government.
Chandy had quoted in local media in August that the state government was in favour of "total prohibition" of liquor. From next April, only 5-star hotels will be granted bar licences, thus prohibiting 700 bars across the state from serving liquor.
On October 30, the Kerala High Court had also backed the government's order.
However, the top court had questioned the state government's logic behind granting licences to 5-star hotels and not to other bars in the state.
