Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is accountable for the involvement of his office in the solar panel scandal.
Reiterating the demand for the resignation of the Chief Minister and a judicial inquiry into the scandal here on Sunday, Mr. Achuthanandan said that evidence pointed to the involvement of Mr. Chandy also in the scandal.
Saritha S. Nair, accused of swindling people by promising solar power units, had told the police that the Chief Minister had given her a recommendatory letter asking various government departments to help her with the projects. Mr. Achuthandnan said the UDF government, which was involved in corruption and sex rackets, had now emerged as organisers and aides of swindlers. Besides the personal staff of Mr. Chandy, Ministers were also allegedly involved in con operations by Saritha and her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan.
The Chief Minister should disclose the connection of his personal staff and Ministers with the accused and how they came to misuse their powers and influence when the Chief Minister’s office was claimed to be transparent in its dealings.
Biju Radhakrishnan was absconding in the case related to the murder of his first wife, according to the police. However, the Chief Minister had held closed door conversations with him for an hour in Ernakulam Government Guest House, according to M.I. Shanavas, MP, who had arranged the meeting. An explanation was also due from Mr. Chandy as to how Saritha could meet him at Vignan Bhavan in Delhi despite high security at the buildings. Mr. Achuthanandan demanded that the source of income of Thomas Kuruvila, aide of the Chief Minister in Delhi, should also be probed. He had stayed at Kerala House in Delhi on seven occasions when the Chief Minister was there. He alleged that Ministers Arayadan Mohammed, K.C. Joseph, K.P. Mohahan, and M.K. Muneer and former Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar had links with Saritha and her company besides Union Minister of State K.C. Venugopal.
The DYFI will take out a march to the Assembly in the capital and Collectorates in the districts on Monday demanding the resignation of Mr. Chandy.
