Bribe shadow over former ministers office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Those who berate the value of a lifeguard’s job, listen to this. A man was asked pay over Rs 1 lakh for the post of lifeguard in the Tourism Department.This is not a joke. The City Police have registered a case of cheating against Anil S, who had been the additional private secretary of former Minister V Surendran Pillai, for offering the job of lifeguard at Rs 50,000. The case has been registered following a complaint filed by one Babu S, a native of Kochuveli. According to the complaint, Anil had reportedly accepted Rs 50,000 in cash from Babu on the promise that Babu would be appointed as a lifeguard. The bribe was given to Anil on December 17, 2010 at Manmohan Bungalow, the official residence of the Minister. Babu was told that his appointment will be confirmed within two months. However, even after two months, Anil did not show any interest in the matter, following which Babu met Surendran Pillai himself on April 4, 2011 and told him the matter.The Minister directed Babu to discuss the issue with the office-bearers of his party, Kerala Congress (Anti-Merger Group). Accordingly, George Sebastian, vice-president of the party, asked Babu to wait till the elections were over. After the elections, Anil was expelled from the office of the Minister for having accepted a bribe from Babu.Babu, a fisherman by profession, was initially asked Rs 1.25 lakh for the job of lifeguard. ‘’It was one of my relatives who told me that Anil could secure me a job if he is given money. I thought he can influence the Minister and hence I trusted him. Also, since I gave the money at the  Minister’s residence, I thought that Minister was well aware about the affair. Even the Minister himself told me in person that he had helped two people get some job related to dredging in Kollam,’’ Babu told City Express. Though Babu was demanded over one lakh rupees, he could only muster only ` 50,000, which he handed over to Anil. He has also incurred a heavy debt owing to the same reason. Babu, who is currently undergoing medical treatment after an accident, had tried to get back the money from Anil on several occasions.‘’Every time he was asked the money, he would coax me saying that I would soon get the job. Once he was expelled from the Minister’s office, he was very angry with me and even challenged me to get back the money,’’ said Babu, who has been left unfit for the fishing job after the accident.When contacted, City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said that the police had already initiated an investigation into the matter.