Thiruvananthapuram sources have stated that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (VACB) inquiry into the disproportionate assets (DA) case was registered against former Kerala Excise Minister K. Babu is inching closer to certain other higher-ups and confidantes in his previous office.
Meanwhile the former ministers have rarely been prosecuted in Kerala in DA cases and hence, the one against Mr. Babu was widely viewed as a watershed case and the onus is on the VACB to make it a watertight one and the DA provision in the Prevention of Corruption Act was stringent.
The former Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan had raised the “spirit mafia link allegation” in the Assembly in connection with the seizure of 7,500 liters of spirit from a tanker lorry ostensibly carrying sodium silicate, which is a chemical agent used for coloring coir product near Aryankavu check-post in 2014.
It is stated that there was no follow up action and other similar complaints under possible review might include KBHA working President Biju Ramesh’s allegation he had personally delivered the bribe to the Excise Minister’s office during the period.
