No prima facie case against Babu: VACB

KOCHI: There is no a prima facie case established in the preliminary inquiry so as to register an first information report (FIR) against Excise Minister K Babu in connection with the bar bribery case, according to an affidavit filed by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in the Kerala High Court on Monday.

In his affidavit, M N. Ramesh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, VACB, Ernakulam, said he had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the passing allegations of bribery made by Biju Ramesh against Babu while making a statement against former Finance Minister K M Mani under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was based on hearsay that Biju Ramesh had obtained from members of the Kerala State Bar and Restaurant Owners Association.

As part of the inquiry, Biju Ramesh’s statement was taken. However, he had departed from his original version. The Deputy Superintendent of Police stated that when he was questioned earlier, he had not disclosed any allegation against Babu. His allegation against Babu was fully based on hearsay.

The two eyewitnesses brought by Biju Ramesh in support of his allegations were his close associates. Even though they supported his version of the incident broadly, when quizzed about the details, their statements had “gross divergences.” This casts a doubt on their credibility as witnesses. The affidavit said the allegations were raised by a bar owner whose business had been adversely affected by the present Abkari policy of the government.

It was pointed out that after having gone into the matter in detail, it was unequivocally concluded that there was “no justifiable reason for a prima facie case to register an FIR”. The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest writ petition filed by Communist Party of India MLA VS Sunil Kumar seeking a CBI probe into the case.