Make available details on bar bribery case probe: Kerala HC to govt

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the state government to make available to it details relating to investigation in the bar bribery case.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice AM Shaffique, also asked government to inform it what action it had taken pursuant to the order of further probe in a case by a vigilance court, Thiruvananthapuram.

The directive was issued on a PIL by one P N Sreekumaran Namboodiri, seeking appointment of a Special Investigation Team to probe the case on the basis of statement by bar hotel owners' Association Working President Biju Ramesh under Section 164 of CrPc to the magistrate, accusing Excise Minister K Babu of accepting bribe.

The petitioner contended that according to the Section 24 of Prevention of Corruption Act, persons giving bribe and taking bribe are guilty.

The bench also orally observed that law would take its own course.

The case will be considered after 10 days for considering the government's views.

Meanwhile, V S Sunil Kumar, MLA, today moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the bar bribery case.