Court turns down plea for CBI probe against Chandy in solar scam
trivandrum — In a big relief to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the high court on Monday dismissed solar scam accused Saritha Nair’s petition for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his alleged role in the case.
Saritha, who gave a new twist to the scam on Sunday by adding sexual allegations to the volley of corruption charges she levelled against the 72-year-old leader earlier, sought a CBI probe in a cheating case registered against her on the complaint of Pathanamthitta-based businessman Sredharan Nair.
Justice Kemal B. Pasha turned down her plea saying she lacked credibility. The judge questioned her motive in coming out with such a plea at a time when the state is about to go to polls. He said he was not interested to turn the court into a forum for political game. Nobody will be allowed to waste the valuable time of the court.
If the petitioner had any complaint against the CM she should raise it straight instead of using the case filed by another person, the judge observed and asked how an accused in the case could approach the court with such a plea.
If she had any complaint against the investigation in the case then she had lot of opportunities to raise it in the lower courts after the chargesheet was filed in 2013. The court suspected she may have political motives in raising the issue now.
Meanwhile, Chandy alleged the hands of powerful lobbies behind
The allegation was aimed at spoiling the chances of the Congressled ruling UDF in the coming assembly polls
Oommen Chandy, Kerala CM
the sexual allegations levelled against him. He told reporters here on Monday the allegation was aimed at spoiling the chances of the Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in the coming assembly polls.
Chandy warned that those behind the conspiracy will have to pay big price. He said he was exploring the possibility of taking legal action in the matter. Chandy said he was working on legal steps.
Earlier, he termed the allegations totally baseless. He pointed out that Saritha had earlier told the media that my approach towards her was like a father. She had also strongly rebutted the same allegations levelled against him by her accused Biju Radhakrishnan.
Referring to his 14-hour long deposition before a judicial commission probing the solar scam, the chief minister said Saritha’s lawyer, who was present while he was cross-examined, had not hinted about any such allegations.
Chandy said the lobbies were targeting him after they have realised that the political wind in Kerala was blowing in favour of the UDF. They are trying to spoil the UDF’s chances after they failed to sabotage the government. He hoped that the people in Kerala will understand the game.