Kerala Oppn stages walkout over spirit smuggling

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 28 (UNI) The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today staged a walkout in the Assembly, alleging that the Government was trying to hush up a case relating to smuggling of spirit in a cement-laden lorry.

Before leading the members out of the House, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the ongoing investigation was an eye wash. ''There is no serious attempt to nab all the culprits behind the spirit smuggling.'' Seeking leave of the House to discuss an adjournment motion, Mr C P Muhammed (Cong) said it had to be suspected that the spirit smuggling scam was worth more than Rs 1,000 crore as about 6,000 lorries, with the gate pass issued by the state-owned Malabar Cements Ltd, had used the green channel at the checkpost in Walayar.

He sought a CBI inquiry into the whole episode.

Opposing the admissibility of the adjournment motion, Excise Minister P K Gurudasan said a case had been registered against three people in connection with the seizure of 7,808 litres of spirit from a lorry. Action would be taken against all involved in the case.

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