Excise Minister K Babu was stopped on Monday by CPI(M) protestors waving black flags before reaching the venue to inaugurate a new building of the Beverages Corporation in Thiruvananthapuram.

The protestors, who were led by MLA V Sivankutty, were demanding the minister’s resignation for allegedly receiving bribes in the bar bribery scam and clashed with the police.

The protestors sat on the road blocking the minister’s path. Since the minister couldn’t reach the inauguration venue, his car was parked at a nearby private hotel. The minister then went on foot and reached the venue using a different route.

The protestors pelted the police with stones to which the police lathi-charged in retaliation.

They were finally removed by force from the spot.