Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Thursday alleged that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and an accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam, had visited Kerala in connection with the approval for a brewery unit in Palakkad, a charge dismissed by the former MP.

Ms. Kavitha termed Mr. Satheesan’s allegations as “baseless and defamatory” and said she will be compelled to take legal action if the Congress leader does not retract his “false statements.”

Mr. Satheesan alleged that Ms. Kavitha “arrived in Kerala for the Oasis Commercial Private Limited Company.” Speaking to the media, the Leader of Opposition demanded an investigation into Ms. Kavitha’s stay in the State.

“There were several mysterious deals behind the allocation of the brewery plant,” he alleged reiterating the Opposition’s claim that the decision was made without consulting the concerned government departments.

Mr. Satheesan stated that the decision to give permission to the Oasis Commercial Private Limited Company to set up “liquor manufacturing plants” was taken unilaterally by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh.

Responding, Ms. Kavitha said the allegations against her are nothing more than a desperate, “reckless attempt by the Congress to grab cheap political attention.” She said she categorically rejects the “fabricated claims” of Mr. Satheesan aimed at maligning her reputation.

“Let me make this clear, if Mr. Satheesan does not issue an immediate and unconditional retraction of his false statements, I will be compelled to take stringent legal action to hold him accountable for this malicious slander and to protect my integrity,” she said in a statement to PTI in Hyderabad.

The Opposition United Democratic Front had on Wednesday released a Cabinet note substantiating their claims against the Left Democratic Front government on the brewery issue.

The note dated January 15 clearly mentions that no discussion was held with any other departments on the matter, according to Mr. Satheesan.

He alleged that the State government altered the liquor policy to benefit Oasis Commercial Private Limited, which had purchased land in the area before the policy change.

“How did the company know in advance that the liquor policy would be amended,” he asked, accusing the government of tailoring the policy to suit the company.

Mr. Satheesan criticised the Excise Minister for defending the project and pointed out that the company has not yet responded to the allegations.

He also dismissed Mr. Rajesh’s claim that the setting up of the brewery project would help in saving a GST loss of ₹₹210 crore, calling it a propaganda, and said that brewery is not subject to GST.