Kerala bar bribery scandal: K Babu to remain as minister

K Babu on Saturday said he was withdrawing his resignation from the Cabinet following the decision taken by the Congress and the Chief Minister (not to accept his resignation).Stating that there are no cases pending against him right now, Babu said “decisions are always subject to change in circumstances and time”.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy got a temporary relief on Friday when the High Court suspended for two months a vigilance court order directing a probe and FIR against him in the solar scam case.

While announcing the withdrawal of his resignation, Babu told reporters that he had already bid farewell to his office staff. He said that he had also planned to vacate the ministerial bungalow and move to the MLA Hostel.

On January 28, the vigilance court in Thrissur ordered that an FIR be registered against Chandy and power minister Arayadan Mohammed on the basis of the accusation made by Saritha Nair that she had paid bribe to them.

But sources quoted earlier have maintained that his decision to stand down as a minister is final irrespective of what the High Court may have to say.

Please enter your email. The UDF meeting too decided not to accept my resignation.

The UDF meeting attended by senior leaders, including Mr Chandy and other coalition party leaders at Thiruvanathapuram, decided that there was no need for Mr Babu to resign as the High Court had stayed the vigilance court proceedings against him for two months. “I will discuss this new request in my party”, Mani told reporters in Kottayam.

The High Court while staying the Vigilance Court order today observed that the “Court suffers jurisdiction errors” and also asked the administration section to consider action against the Vigilance Court Judge.It also observed that the “judge had acted mechanically without knowing the nature and extend of his powers”.

“He knows that he (Chandy) is tainted, so he wants Babu to return”.

Working President of Kerala Bar Owners Association Biju Ramesh had alleged that Rs 10 crore was given to Excise Minister K Babu for renewal of licences of liquor bars.

Recently, the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau had given clean chit to Mani into the case that he had taken bribe from bar owners.