Kerala finance minister KM Mani was on Thursday booked by a special cell of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in the bar bribe scam, leaving the Oommen Chandy Government red-faced. After a preliminary inquiry, involving taking statement from the minister himself, the vigilance cell filed an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It has been alleged that Mani accepted R50 lakh as bribe from bar owners. Mani's party KC(M), the third largest component in the ruling Congress -led United Democratic Front (UDF), enjoys powerful support base in central Kerala. Biju Ramesh, working president, Kerala Bar Hotels Association, had alleged that they had paid R1 crore to Mani in three instalments. This, according to him, was for renewal of expired liquor retail licences. The alleged bribe was paid prior to the closure of 418 'sub-standard' bars in April, he had said.