Animon (Right)
A voice message was broadcast by Malayalam TV channels and circulated on social media on May 24. It has stirred up a hornet’s nest in Kerala politics. The message asks bar owners in Kerala to contribute Rs 2.50 lakhs each to influence the state Government’s Liquor Policy 2024-2025, aiming to ensure a ‘favourable’ liquor policy.
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The voice message’s originator is Animon, Idukki district president and state vice president of the Federation of Kerala Hotel Association. The voice message sought Rs 2.50 lakhs from the members, that is, the bar hotel owners, to influence the ‘authorities’ to end the ‘Dry Day’ on the first day of every calendar month and increase the bars ‘working hours.
The alleged voice message states: ‘Decisions were made clear in the recent general body meeting. Members should be ready to provide what is necessary. Only one-third of the required funds have been received from all over the state. Nobody would help without providing this. None has got any connections or dealings with anyone. Failure to cooperate could lead into significant trouble’.
Meanwhile, a section of bar owners at the meeting reportedly confirmed that the voice recording belonged to Animon and affirmed the decision.
Union Minister V Muraleedharan stated that the revelation by the bar owner proves that a bribe is required to change the liquor policy. He demanded the resignation of the Excise Minister and an inquiry into the contents of the voice message. The voice message indicates that crores of rupees have already been collected, necessitating an inquiry into where this money went. Decisions on policy matters would not be made without the knowledge of the Chief Minister. Pinarayi Vijayan should clarify whether bar owners have been asked to pay bribes. If bribes have been collected, the Chief Minister should be aware. Agencies under the Kerala Government cannot reveal the truth; therefore, a central agency should be appointed. The CPM admitted K M Mani’s Kerala Congress into the LDF despite the bar scam allegations during the last regime of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The Minister added that the second Liquor Scam makes it clear that as far as corruption is concerned, there is no difference between the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition UDF.
BJP state president K Surendran expressed his opinion that this is blatant corruption. He stated that Pinarayi Vijayan will face the fate of Aravind Kejriwal, likening it to a Delhi model Bar Scam. The voice message from the Bar Owners’ Association leader, indicating that crores of rupees have to be paid to the Government, further exposes the true colours of the LDF Government. The LDF came to power promising to close liquor shops, but they have reopened closed bars. Now, the LDF’s plan involves major corruption by removing Dry days and increasing the working hours of the bars, ultimately drowning the state in alcohol.
UDF demanded the resignation of Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh. M.M. Hassan, UDF Convener and Congress leader demanded a judicial inquiry into the scam.
This is the second liquor scam the state has faced, with the first occurring in March 2019 during the UDF regime. K.M. Mani was the Revenue Minister in Oommen Chandy’s cabinet at the time. The opposition LDF alleged that Mani collected Rs 1 crore from bar owners as a bribe to change the liquor policy. Despite Mani, the entire UDF alliance, and the Government rejecting the allegation, the LDF maintained that Mani had a money-counting machine at home. Their attempt to present the annual state budget was thwarted by LDF MLAs, who vandalised the assembly, furniture, and even computers. Allegedly, lady MLAs were also attacked. Consequently, Mani had to resign. However, the same Kerala Congress led by Mani was accepted by the LDF as a constituent. Now, the LDF faces consequences due to the liquor scam.
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