Entrepreneur and hotelier V.M. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday appeared before the vigilance and anti-corruption wing of the Kerala police that is investigating the bar bribery case.
He gave a statement clarifying his stand regarding the recent surfacing of an audio tape alleging that the Kerala bar owners’ association had attempted to bribe four Ministers in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government. The officials have recorded his statement.
Talking to presspersons after giving the statement, Mr. Radhakrishnan said he had produced documents proving that he handed over Rs.7 lakh on September 24, 2014, to the bar owners’ association to ‘meet expenses of cases.’
He said the amount was transferred to the association’s account at a private bank at Kathrikadavu in Kochi by electronic money transfer from his account in Palakkad.
He refuted the allegation that the amount was part of the bribe to be paid to the Ministers. He said the amount was to meet the expenses of court cases moved by the association to fight the liquor policy of the State government.
He said he had information that the association had given donations to almost all political parties in the State seeking their help in fighting the liquor policy. He alleged that the audio tapes doing the rounds contained selective truths.
