The mandap, which is modelled after Akshardham temple, at the wedding venue. Express The mandap, which is modelled after Akshardham temple, at the wedding venue. Express

Amid the ongoing currency crisis, Kerala on Sunday is set to witness an extravagant wedding of a Congress leader’s son with a liquor baron’s daughter. Former minister Adoor Prakash’s son will tie the knot with liquor baron Biju Ramesh’s daughter at an eight-acre venue, which has been prepared like a film set.

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The wedding mandap is modelled after Akshardham Temple, and the venue and entrance resemble the Mysore Palace. According to Ramesh, 20,000 guests have been invited for the wedding. It was Ramesh, chairman of Rajadhani Group and owner of scores of bars, who had raised the bribery allegations against former finance minister K M Mani in the previous UDF government. Prakash was also a minister.

It was Ramesh, chairman of Rajadhani Group and owner of scores of bars, who had raised the bribery allegations against former finance minister K M Mani in the previous UDF government. It was Ramesh, chairman of Rajadhani Group and owner of scores of bars, who had raised the bribery allegations against former finance minister K M Mani in the previous UDF government.

The engagement function, held a few months ago, ran into controversy after state Congress president V M Sudheeran slammed former chief minister Oommen Chandy and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala for secretly attending the function. Sudheeran had questioned their propriety as the liquor baron had landed the party government in a major crisis. Mani, who has quit UDF, had also criticised Chandy and Chennithala for attending the function hosted by the liquor baron.

Former minister Adoor Prakash and liquor baron Biju Ramesh. Former minister Adoor Prakash and liquor baron Biju Ramesh.

Mani, who had alleged that the bribery allegation against him stemmed from a conspiracy involving Chennithala and Prakash, said that the former minister’s presence at the engagement function substantiated his claim. With the Congress putting the BJP in a dock over the current cash crisis following the demonetisation decision, it will be keenly watched which leaders from the Congress would attend the wedding.

With the Congress putting the BJP in a dock over the current cash crisis following the demonetisation decision, it will be keenly watched which leaders from the Congress would attend the wedding. With the Congress putting the BJP in a dock over the current cash crisis following the demonetisation decision, it will be keenly watched which leaders from the Congress would attend the wedding.

Asked about holding an extravaganza during the ongoing cash crisis, Ramesh said that he got the money from several of his businesses as they did not deposit cash in the banks recently. The cash was retained for the wedding, he said.

Asked about holding an extravaganza during the ongoing cash crisis, liquor baron Biju Ramesh said that he got the money from several of his businesses as they did not deposit cash in the banks recently. Asked about holding an extravaganza during the ongoing cash crisis, liquor baron Biju Ramesh said that he got the money from several of his businesses as they did not deposit cash in the banks recently.

He claimed that he also collected money from his friends in business circles against cheques that he issued to them. “I have no black money,” he added. The liquor baron did not divulge the total budget for the wedding.

Prakash refused to comment. “I should not comment on my son’s marriage,” the former minister said. Asked about the invitations send to former cabinet colleagues and Congress leaders, Prakash said he had invited some people and also avoided certain others.

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