Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] legislator V. Sivankutty has issued a notice to Excise Minister K. Babu seeking Rs.1 crore as compensation for what he has claimed to be defamatory statements made by Mr. Babu about him.

In a statement issued her here on Sunday, Mr. Sivankutty said he had issued the notice in the light of Mr. Babu’s allegation that he had conspired with bar hotel owners at his home to cook up with the bar bribery charges against Mr. Babu.