It was a stormy start to the winter session of the State Assembly, which was adjourned midway after the Opposition members trooped to the well of the House on Monday, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister K Babu over the bar bribery scandal.

Opposition charge CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Babu’s continuance as Minister was untenable after KM Mani had to resign on similar charges in the same case. While Mani was accused of taking ₹1 crore as bribe, Babu is alleged to have received ₹10 crore, he said.

This exposed the double standards of the United Democratic Front government and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, he added.

A ‘preliminary inquiry’ conducted against Babu was in violation of the provisions of the Vigilance Manual. But a ‘quick verification’ had been conducted against Mani, who resigned following High Court observations, Balakrishnan said.

Govt version Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala maintained that the two cases were of different nature. Quick verification and preliminary inquiry were part of the same procedure, he said.

Since the witnesses against Mani did not turn up to furnish evidence, the Vigilance had to register an FIR. On the other hand, evidence furnished against Babu was too weak and hence rejected, he added.

The government had asked the Superintendent of Police S Sukesan, who had probed the case against Mani, whether he was willing to inquire Babu’s case also, but he was of the view that the case was not of the same nature and declined, the Home Minister said.

Babu’s denial On his part, Babu denied the charges and asked the Opposition to wait until the court passed its verdict in the case against him.

Opposition Leader VS Achuthanandan reiterated the charges and also accused Babu of transacting substantial sums through the bank account of one of his former personal staff members.

Based on the government’s explanation, Speaker N Sakthan denied leave for an adjournment motion. Opposition members then moved to the well, shouting slogans.

The Speaker then completed the day’s business and adjourned the House.

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