Kerala Excise Minister K Babu yesterday denied charges that he received Rs100mn in bribe for reducing the annual liquor fees of bars. Biju Ramesh, who owns a string of bars in Kerala, has testified before a magistrate that Rs100mn was given to Babu for reducing the fees. “I have all the documents to prove what he has said is false. I have been in public life for the past 49 years and everyone knows me. Ramesh has a grudge against me and hence he is levelling baseless allegations,” Babu said. “I have always taken a stand that I will not cling on to power in the guise of technicalities,” he said.
