Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI(M) in Kerala on Thursday described as “shocking” the deposition made by a prime accused before the judicial commission probing solar scam that a bribe of Rs 5.50 crore was paid to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The deposition was made by Biju Radhakrishnan, the second accused in the solar case, before the commission at the sitting at Kochi on Thursday.
CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the statement of Radhakrishan had confirmed the allegations came out in this regard when the scam broke out in 2013 itself.
Justice (retd) Sivarajan commission should publish an interim-report in the wake of serious allegations made by Radhakrishnan, who was one of the main partner of ‘Team Solar Company’, that allegedly cheated several persons by offering ‘Solar panel solutions’.
The company was allegedly floated by Saritha S Nair and Radhakrishnan. Saritha is the first accused in the case. They were arrested and were on bail.
However, Radhakrishan is in prison after he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of his wife. Solar scam pertains to cheating of several persons worth crores of rupees by Saritha and Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. The duo allegedly canvassed business by using high-level names including that of Chandy.
The case that came to light in June 2013 took a political turn as three of Chandy’s staff members were forced to quit and one of them, Tenny Joppen, was arrested for alleged link with Saritha.
The scam had rocked the state and LDF opposition had launched an agitation pressing for Chandy’s resignation, but the government did not relent.