Achuthanandan hits back at solar scam accused

Even as Saritha Nair, the main accused in what has come to be called the solar scam in Kerala, has filed a complaint against V.S. Achuthanandan, leader of the opposition in the Kerala assembly, and three others, the latter hit back at her.

Responding to queries here in Kozhikode Saturday after news surfaced that Nair filed a complaint against Achuthanandan for speaking ill of her, the veteran Communist said: "I am least bothered by the complaint because all through I have fought many cases."

On Saturday, Nair's counsel Feny Balakrishnan after meeting her at a jail in the state capital said she had filed the complaint against Achuthanandan and three others for speaking ill of her.

Allegations have been made that Nair was caught on camera in "compromising positions" with a number of political leaders and senior officials. Many of these allegations were made in the course of interviews on a TV channel backed by the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist, of which Achuthanandan is a leader.

Balakrishnan said the complaint was made Friday. It would be filed before the Ernakulam North police station Sunday.

"She told me she has already filed a complaint against Achuthanandan and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader K. Surendran after they spoke ill of her, violating her rights as a woman, after reports surfaced through Jacob Mathew, the so-called counsel of Biju Radhakrishnan (another accused in the solar scam, and a former live-in partner of Nair) told the media that he had seen, and was in possession, of a video that featured Nair and three Kerala ministers and many others in compromising positions. She is deeply upset and decided to file the case," Balakrishnan said.

"The others who have been named in her complaint include Mathew and Radhakrishnan," Balakrishnan said.

Reacting to the news, Surendran said this is nothing but a ploy of the police and they are using Nair.

Mathew, meanwhile, welcomed the news, saying this would be helpful and the video would be released as evidence when the case comes up for hearing.

Kerala Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told reporters that instead of coming out with threats about the video, those who have it should just release it.

Mathew, early this week, went public and said Nair had recorded the scenes herself, using a pen camera, and the recording was later taken over by Radhakrishnan.

The solar panel scam has been making headlines in Kerala since June 3, when Nair was arrested. Two weeks later, her live-in partner Radhakrishnan was also taken into custody.

The couple allegedly defrauded people by offering solar energy solutions at huge discounts and often lured people into investing in their enterprise by citing acquaintance with people in high office in the state government.

Telephone call records of the couple revealed they had been in close touch with influential people in Kerala.

The state police have so far charged the couple in 33 cases. In some of them, popular TV actress Shalu Menon was also named as an accused.

Balakrishnan said that once Nair is released from jail, she would speak to the media and reveal what actually happened.