THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise Minister K Babu is now accusing Biju Ramesh, bar association working president, of having a personal vendetta against him. The minister said while he had no known grudge against Biju, the latter was targeting him for not granting license for his Hotel Indraprastha in Nedumangad.
Biju had yesterday alleged that Babu accepted a bribe of Rs 10 crores. Babu refuted the bribery allegations levelled against him and said it was part of a conspiracy to topple the Congress-led UDF government.
A day after Ramesh submitted a confidential statement on the bar scam at a First Class Magistrate court here, Babu alleged that the bar owner was trying to destabilise the government with the support of certain LDF opposition leaders.
Ramesh, who levelled charges of bribery against Finance Minister and KC-M leader K M Mani, had told the media yesterday that he had made a statement before the magistrate against three Congress minister, including Babu, in connection with the bar scam.
Terming the charges "baseless", Babu also released at a press conference an audio tape purportedly containing conversation between Biju Ramesh and certain LDF leaders on the possibility of toppling the government.
Babu said the bar scam was a result of the hotelier's animosity towards the government and especially towards him as out of nine bar hotels owned by Ramesh, seven were closed following the new liquor policy.
"The huge loss of revenue following the government's new liquor policy led to Ramesh turning against the government," he said. Babu also challenged Ramesh to come out with clear-cut evidence to support his charge that he had sought bribe.
The minister also said he would file a defamation notice against Ramesh tomorrow.
Biju, who alleged that I accepted money, should make clear, where, when and from whom. Is there anybody who has seen me accepting money, asked Babu.
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