Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders called on Governor Nikhil Kumar here on Thursday seeking a judicial inquiry into the ‘involvement’ of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his office in the ‘solar scam.’
The Opposition leaders, who reached Raj Bhavan leading a march by LDF legislators, said in their memorandum to the Governor that a ‘detailed judicial enquiry alone will bring in the nexus between the rulers and the culprits.’ Emerging from Raj Bhavan, Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the Governor had promised to look into their demand and take appropriate action.
The Opposition memorandum pointed out that though officers of the Kerala Police had been entrusted with the investigation, they ‘will have constraints to prove allegations against the Chief Minister or his office.’ That being the case, ‘it is only just and proper that a judicial enquiry be ordered.
They said sections of the media had exposed ‘the nexus’ between a few of the personal staff of the Chief Minister and ‘two shady characters,’ Saritha S. Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan.
They had, with the help of the Chief Minister’s personal staff, cheated several innocent people of several lakhs of rupees, offering to install solar panels.
Although the Chief Minister had initially denied any knowledge of Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S. Nair, he was forced to subsequently retract several of his claims when confronted with evidence. He was even forced to admit to having met ‘these shady persons.’ The Chief Minister was trying to wriggle out of this issue by taking some minor actions against a few subordinate officers in his personal staff.
