Calls for Chandy to quit, but no trace of alleged sex CD

Solar scam accused Radhakrishnan claims he has proof of sexual encounters involving senior politicians

Akhel Mathew

The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the opposition Left yesterday continued to indulge in political recriminations over the solar panel scam.

The UDF announced protest meetings in all 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala against the opposition “attempts to tarnish” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s public image in the 2013 scam.

On the other hand, opposition leaders said a CD that one of the prime accused talked of was removed by Chandy and his supporters. They demanded the chief minister’s resignation in the matter.

TV show

Tens of thousands of Keralites sat glued to television sets on Thursday evening as the Solar scam accused, Biju Radhakrishnan was given a chance to retrieve a compact disc from Coimbatore, where he said he had entrusted it with an associate. He claimed the CD held proof of sexual encounters between top political leaders of the state with his co-accused in the Solar case, Saritha Nair.

Among those who were alleged to be figuring in the CD were chief minister Chandy and a few ministers. The Solar Commission that is inquiring into the case permitted Radhakrishnan to travel to Coimbatore under police custody to try and retrieve the CD, after Radhakrishnan had sought 10 hours to get it.

The search for the CD ended in an anti-climax, with Radhakrishnan unable to find the bag in which he claimed he had left the CD and a pen drive. Yesterday, Radhakrishnan claimed that “if the solar commission permits, I can produce the CD at its next sitting”.

Both Chandy and Nair have stoutly denied Radhakrishnan’s allegations.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Radhakrishnan said, “It was the right place [that] we went in search of the CD. You can very well guess who would have removed it”.

The Solar scam accused, who is also accused in the case pertaining to the murder of his wife, said he stuck to his earlier allegations against the CM and others.

Opposition leader, V.S. Achuthanandan said yesterday that “the chief minister should quit if the word ‘shame’ has any meaning”. The nonagenarian Communist Party of India Marxist leader made the comment during a protest by the Opposition demanding the resignations of the chief minister and the excise minister, K. Babu in connection with the liquor bar bribery case.

Last month, finance minister, K.M. Mani had to resign from his post after allegations that he had been bribed by the liquor bar owners’ association.

Achutanandan also made a reference to the discontent brewing within the senior police leadership in the state. Jacob Thomas, an Indian Police Service officer of the director general of police rank, has been openly critical of the chief minister and has even sought permission to take legal recourse against the chief minister.

The Left opposition should not stoop to such levels and dance to the tunes of a criminal. We will hold protest meetings in all 140 assembly segments tomorrow.”

P.P. Thankachen UDF convener

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Utterance criticised

Thomas’ utterances have been criticised by the director general of police for law and order, T.P. Sen Kumar. The Congress mouthpiece, Veekshanam newspaper commented that Thomas was taking up the role of the opposition, and that he should be “flogged” for his statements.

“The Left opposition should not stoop to such levels and dance to the tunes of a criminal. We will hold protest meetings in all 140 assembly segments tomorrow (Saturday),” said UDF convener P.P. Thankachen.

“Both inside and outside the assembly, the opposition is playing a cruel game to tarnish Chandy’s image on the basis of a criminal’s statement. They should stop this slander or else the UDF will strongly counter it,” state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said.