Vigilance has not moved an inch forward in probe: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 9 (PTI) Congress leader and formerKerala chief minister Oommen Chandy today claimed that theVigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had not moved "aninch forward" in investigating the allegations levelledagainst former state minister K Babu in the bar bribery scam. "Vigilance has not come out with any evidence againstBabu. They have not moved an inch forward in probing thecharges levelled against him," he told reporters here. "We welcome the crusade against corruption and any probe,but the hidden motive behind it cannot be accepted," he added. Targeting VACB Director Jacob Thomas, Chandy alleged thatthe raids at the houses of Babu and his relatives were carriedout "without any preliminary findings". "The truth will come out in the next few days," he added. Asked whether he was the next target of the VACB, theformer chief minister said he was not afraid of any probe. "We have not done anything wrong. The charge was levelledby a person who had suffered loss due to the government’sdecision on the liquor policy," he said. Recently, the VACB had raided the residences of formerKerala excise minister Babu and his two daughters inconnection with a disproportionate assets case against him. Babu, who had a controversial stint as excise minister inthe previous UDF government, had resigned after a Thrissurvigilance court ordered the Vigilance Department to registeran FIR against him in connection with the bar bribery scam. He was later reinstated in the post. PTI JRK APRRC