LDF leaders meets Kerala Governor

Thiruvananthapuram: Sharpening its attack on Congress-led UDF government in Kerala over the bar bribery case, LDF leaders led by CPI-M veteran VS Achuthanandan on Tuesday met the Governor and sought removal of KM Mani as Finance Minister against whom an FIR has been registered.

LDF leaders met Governor P Sathasivam and submitted a memorandum seeking action against Mani in the wake of a recent Vigilance Court order for a further probe in the case and statement of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that there was no need for Mani to resign.

Governor told them that necessary steps would be taken on the matter after due examination, Achuthanandan told reporters after meeting him at the Raj Bhavan here.

Achuthanandan also warned that LDF would intensify its stir demanding resignation of Mani, if Chief Minister Oommen Chandy "continued to protect him."

The case relates to the allegation by Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association Working President Biju Ramesh that Mani had demanded Rs five crore bribe and accepted Rs one crore for renewal of bar licence of over 400 Indian made foreign liquor bars in 2014.

LDF has been on the warpath ever since the alleged scam broke out last year.

Meanwhile, a beleaguered Mani maintained that the bribery allegations were politically motivated.

"I am in politics for the past 50 years and people in the state know me well," Mani said at his home town Pala in Kottayam district.

Mani also expressed confidence that verdict in the case would not affect the civic poll results.