Bar Owners Association rejects Biju Ramesh's allegations against Kerala Opposition Leader

The Bar Owners Association rejects Biju Ramesh’s new revelations on the bar bribery case. While speaking to a television channel, Federation of Kerala Hotel Association’s President Sunil Kumar claims that neither owners nor association had collected any money, and the statements by Biju Ramesh are ever-changing. Sunil added that Biju Ramesh’s statements are unacceptable.

According to the new revelations of Biju Ramesh — a former leader of the association and prominent bar owner in the state capital —he had given Rs 1 Crore to then KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala. However, the Opposition leader had denied these allegations levelled by the hotelier.

The opposition leader claims that a preliminary Vigilance probe was initiated against him based on the 164-statement given by Biju Ramesh. It is also learned that the preliminary enquiry report submitted categorically could not find any trustworthy evidence to proceed with the probe. The accuracy of VACB’s findings is yet to be examined by the trial court. Moreover, the Lokayukta has already dismissed the case.

The state government has already given permission for a Vigilance probe against Ramesh Chennithala and the file is now pending before Governor Arif Muhammed Khan. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala declared that he would file a defamation case against Biju Ramesh for raising serious allegations.

On Monday, in a press conference, hotelier Biju Ramesh levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Ramesh Chennithala. He stressed that he had lost trust in the Vigilance probe and demanded an investigation by a central investigating agency.

He stressed, “When the probe went forward, I didn’t get justice. All politicians are the same. CPM and Congress are trying to reach a consensus in the case. I have no trust in the Vigilance probe announced now. Central agencies should probe the case.”

Immediately, after the meeting between former Finance Minister KM Mani and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his residence, the probe into the bribery scam ended, alleges Biju Ramesh. He also added that Ramesh Chennithala and his wife requested him not to reveal his name, which is why he did not mention his name in the confidential statement.

While interacting with the media, Biju Ramesh said that the communist party does not have the old ideological purity. The affidavits of 36, including MLAs and ministers submitted during the elections, were incorrect. He added, “Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who had earlier supported me, changed their stance later. Before the Vigilance, I had revealed the names of many political leaders and many facts, including how Jose K Mani tried to influence me. However, they informed me that they have no authority to probe those. But I stand firm on my statement and have evidence to prove the same.”

Biju Ramesh is a former office-bearer of Kerala Bar Hotel Association (KBHA), who had raised allegations claiming that bribes were paid in 2015 to speed up nearly 300 bars’ relicensing after it was closed by the then Oommen Chandy government.