Judicial probe indicts Kerala excm Chandy in solar scam

IN THE DOCK Report says former ministers doled out favours to main accused Saritha Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The judicial commission formed to probe the multi-million dollar solar scam in Kerala has indicted former chief minister Oommen Chandy, former ministers in his cabinet, and other leaders of the Congress for allegedly helping the accused cheat businessmen with the promise of installing solar power plant units.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan tabled the justice G Sivarajan Commission report, which ran into more than 1,000 pages and included four volumes in English and one in Malayalam, on Thursday during a special session of the Kerala assembly.

Justice Sivarajan submitted his report on September 26, four years after the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front government constituted the commission. The racket was one of the main reasons for the exit of the Congress regime.

The report said Chandy and his staff members doled out many favours to Saritha Nair, the main accused. It also found that former home minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan and members of the special investigation team probing the scam helped Chandy and his staff escape the clutches of the criminal procedures.

Contesting the allegations, Chandy said what the government tabled in the assembly was not solar report, but Saritha report. He said the report was based on a letter written by Nair, who changed her statements several times, and the commission failed to meet the terms of reference set by the government.

The solar scam made headlines four years ago with the arrest of Nair and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan, who allegedly conned businessmen by flaunting their high-level connections, including with Chandy who was the CM at the time.

Reports said three staff in the chief minister’s office had contacts with the couple, who cheated many investors of money after promising to supply solar panels to them and stakes in a fictitious firm. It added that besides Chandy, his ministers AP Anil Kumar, Aryadan Mohamed and Adoor Prakash and party leaders KC Venugopal and Hibi Eden and Kerala Congress (Mani) leader Jose K Mani sexually exploited Nair, who ran Team Solar.

Nair, who is facing at least 30 cheating cases, claimed during the investigation she was sexually exploited by many leaders.

However, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the report was changed at the behest of some ruling party leaders and the UDF would fight it out legally.

The ruling front countered his allegations, saying the judicial commission was appointed by the previous government.

(With IANS inputs)