Bar bribery still a hot issue for Kerala CPI(M), party workers block Excise Minister K Babu

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid indications that Kerala Congress chief KM Mani may be re-inducted into the Oommen Chandy cabinet, the CPI(M) has step up the pressure on Excise Minister K Babu in the wake of allegations against in the bar bribery case.

CPI(M) activists today waved black flags and squatted on the road demanding Babu's resignation, when he arrived to attend a function in the state capital.

Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners' working president Biju Ramesh had alleged that minister Babu had demanded Rs 10 crore in connection with reducing the bar license fees in 2014.

A group of CPI-M workers, including women, staged the protest when Babu was proceeding to inaugurate the new headquarters building of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation.

But the protest failed to deter the minister – he attended the function after reaching the venue through a side road.

The protest allegedly turned violent as the CPI(M) activists pelted stones at the police. That leading to a lathicharge.

The police then forcibly removed the protesters, including CPI(M) MLA V Sivankutty.