(Image source from: News18.com)

Kerala Govt To Probe Former CM Oommen Chandy In Solar Scam Case:- A criminal and vigilance probe against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and others has been decided to be initiated by the Kerala government in the Rs 7 million solar scam case.

Apart from Chandy, those who will be investigated in the scam are Chandy’s cabinet colleagues Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Aryadan Mohammed and former Congress legislators Thampanoor Ravi and Benny Behanan. The solar scam surfaced in the year 2013.

Based on the recommendations of the Solar Scam Commission report submitted by Justice (retd) G Sivarajan in September, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the decision, after the weekly cabinet meeting. A criminal case against all those whose names had appeared in a letter written by Saritha Nair, had been decided to be registered by the Vijayan government. Nair, in her letter, had complained of sexual exploitation.

In the Solar Scam case, Saitha Nair was the prime accused. The solar scam case relates to a fraudulent solar energy company, Team Solar, in Kerala. The two women were used by the firm to create political contacts with links even to the Chief Minister’s office. Moreover, by offering to make them business partners, or by offering to install solar power units for them, several influential people were duped to the tune   of Rs 70 million. They also received advance payments for the same.

A case against the then top police officers who probed the case, was also recommended to be registered by the Sivaranjan Commission. To investigate the cases, a new special investigation team led by Director General of Police Rajesh Diwan has been set up.

SUPRAJA