Kerala solar scam report tabled

The multi-million fraud had rocked the Oommen Chandy government in 2013

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday tabled the full text of the Solar Judicial Commission probe report at a special session of the state assembly. He also gave permission for live telecast of the day’s proceedings.

The more than 1,000-page report by retired Justice G. Sivarajan includes four volumes in English and one in Malayalam.

After the Chief Minister tabled the report, copies of it were given to all the legislators and to the media.

The allegations regarding the multi-million solar energy investment fraud that rocked the then Oommen Chandy government in 2013 were made by Saritha Nair and her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan.

Chandy indicted

The findings of the report indict Chandy and his office.

Among the others who have been found guilty include Chandy’s former cabinet colleagues Aryadan Mohammad, Adoor Prakash, A.P. Anil Kumar and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

The others named in the case are legislator Hibi Eden, former MLAs Benny Behanan and Thampanoor Ravi, Lok Sabha members Jose K. Mani and K.C. Venugopal, former In 2013, Team Solar Energy Company floated by Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S Nair, used women to lobby with influential people in the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala, including then chief minister Oommen Chandy. The scam involved duping of millions of rupees from people in powerful positions, by offering to make them business partners, or by offering to install solar power units for them. For this advance payments were collected but the company failed to deliver the goods. The scam came to light when customer Sreedharan Nair filed a case against the company claiming he was duped. Nair claimed he met Chandy in his office, along with Saritha when the CM approved the company’s credibility. Union Minister Palanimanickam and some party officebearers.

The report also contains a letter written by Nair wherein she names those who sexually exploited her.

After Vijayan finished his speech, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala alleged there had been reports that after Sivarajan submitted his report, a person had been sent to meet him, which was improper. “This report is based on what Saritha Nair has said and you (Vijayan) are using this to settle political scores,’ he alleged.