The CPI(M) government in Kerala has sought consent from the Governor and Assembly speaker to initiate an investigation against Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and two former ministers in the milieu of recent disclosures in the Bar Bribery case with the Congress saying the move was 'politically motivated.'

The development comes as the three phase local body polls are set to start from December 8 and the left government is facing heat over multiple central agencies probing the Kerala Gold Smuggling case and Life Mission projects. Biju Ramesh, a liquor tycoon, had recently repeated his allegations that he had paid bribes to Chennithala, then KPCC president, and K Babu and V S Sivakumar, former excise and health ministers respectively, during the term of the previous UDF government.

Following the fresh disclosures, vigilance had conducted a quick verification and sent the file relating to further investigation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The file has been sent to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Speaker P Sreeramakrsihanan’s office, CMO sources said.

Reacting to the development, Chennithala said he welcomed any probe on the matter. ”Six years ago, I had denied the allegations when I was KPCC president. My hands are clean. No one has offered or accepted any bribes”. The present move is politically oriented, the veteran Congress leader told reporters here. Two vigilance directors– Sankar Reddy and Jacob Thomas had probed the allegations and found no substance in it.

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