A ring of sexual corruption, alleges key suspect.
By Dileep Thekkethil
The key suspect in the solar scam case in Kerala, Biju Radhakrishnan, has accused chief minister Oommen Chandy and two other cabinet members of receiving sexual favors in addition to a bribe of Rs. 5.5 crore for conducting the scam.
According to the statement given by Biju to the judicial commission, which is currently probing the scam, Oommen Chandy, his party members Hybi Eden, Aryadan Shoukkathu and ministers Anil Kumar and Shibu Baby John sexually used Saritha S. Nair, his business and live-in-partner. He also alleged Nazeerilla, the personal secretary of Anil Kumar, having sexual links with Saritha.
During his revelation to the Solar Commission, Radhakrishnan told that he had paid a bribe of Rs. 5.5 crore to Chandy as directed by his gunman Salim Raj and another five lakh was handed over to Chandy’s personal staff members T Joppen and Jikkumon Jacob, who were earlier arrested in connection with the scam.
Radhakrishnan, who is currently serving life imprisonment for murdering his wife Rashmi in 2006, also claims that he has the video evidence for linking Chandy and others with Saritha. He also added that the visual of five political leaders having sex with Saritha was shown to Chandy, bar one behind one which had Chandy’s himself.
“I have seen Chandy as a fatherly figure. It is heinous to raise such an allegation. I challenge him to disclose the visuals. I would take legal action against him. I would appear before the commission on December 7 and reveal the financial dealings in the solar issue. I have not seen Shoukkath, but know Shibu Baby John as a minister,’’ said Nair while reacting to the statement made by Radhakrishnan.
Minister Shibu Baby John has rubbished the allegations levelled against him, but Chief Minister Chandy was not available for any comments.
Radhakrishnan told the commission today that the chief minister’s office has a pivotal role in the rise and fall of his establishment “Team Solar”.
The incidents leading to the scam unfolded after Saritha S Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan collected huge amounts from investors promising them solar energy material and a stake in the company’s wind energy solutions.
The police investigation had earlier found that the personal staff of the Kerala chief minister, Joppen, Jikumon and Salim Raj had a close relationship with Saritha and used the chief minister’s office in the scam. Chandy sacked all three soon after the findings of the police. Salim Raj is also accused in another case involving land grabbing, which is currently under the investigation of the CBI.
The police investigation had also revealed that some Congress MLAs, ministers and union ministers had a close relation with Saritha and had called her at odd hours that too with the call duration lasting many hours.
The single-member judicial commission that is looking into all aspects of the infamous ‘Solar Scam’ is headed by retired judge Sivarajan.