KOCHI: Biju Ramesh, the 50-year-old hotelier, could do what the strong Opposition failed against a government with a relatively narrow margin. Though the LDF had oraganised a massive Secretariat siege to evict the government with high-voltage corruption charges, no could not topple any minister on the charges. However, Biju Ramesh, the one-man army, could oust two ministers.
He had inherited the businesses of his father, G Ramesan, a prominent contractor in the 1960s who ventured into the hotel industry in 1972. After he took over his father’s businesses, Biju diversified into education and construction.
Biju, who revealed that he had gone to Babu’s office at the Secretariat to hand over the money in two installments of Rs 50 lakh each, had also challenged the minister to undergo a lie detection test to prove him wrong. Biju further alleged political interference in the investigation into the bar scandal and the charges that he had levelled against Babu were never investigated.
He made startling revelations and allegations against some of the prominent liquor barons which lost him some public support within the group.
Biju Denies Conspiracy
T’Puram: Bar Hotel Association working president Biju Ramesh has denied the allegation levelled against him by former Excise Minister K Babu that there was a conspiracy involving Biju Ramesh, V Sivankutty MLA and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in raking up the bar bribery case. Biju told mediapersons on Saturday that he had not visited Sivankutty or Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to conspire against Babu. “I had met Kodiyeri and other leaders. He asked me to speak out the truth. But he did not make any promise that bars would be reopened if the LDF came to power,” he said. Biju also said that he had moved the High Court to stay the defamation suit filed by Babu as he had no time to conduct the cases. He said he would pursue the case against Babu.