Kerala solar panel scam: Chandy to seek legal steps

Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, named as an accused in the 2013 solar panel scam, on Tuesday said he will seek legal recourse.

Speaking to reporters here, Chandy said: "I do not fear anything as I have done no wrong. It is quite natural to know the contents of that report where we are all implicated."

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has already rejected the demand for making public the report of the Justice G. Sivarajan Commission, which probed the solar scam, in which Chandy has now been arraigned as prime accused by the government.

"We wish to know what was the basis of implicating us and also on what basis and what evidence are we charged. I know that I have done no wrong and hence I want to know who have all given the evidence," said Chandy.

"After having asked for the report through the Right to Information (RTI), if they do not give, I will seek legal recourse," he added.

The probe decision was announced by Vijayan last week, based on the recommendations of the Solar Scam Commission report submitted by Justice (retd) G. Sivarajan in September.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Director General of Police Rajesh Diwan has been set up to investigate the cases -- both criminal and also a sexual harassment case against Chandy and close to a dozen senior Congress leaders, some of whom are former ministers, sitting legislators and also former legislators.

A social media campaign #StandWithOC launched on Sunday by Chandy's well-wishers stating "he is being hounded by the Vijayan government", featured in the top 10 in the country at the end of the day.

"#StandWithOC was launched by his ardent fans," a family member of the former Chief Minister told IANS.

The solar scam made headlines four years ago with the arrest of Saritha Nair and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan, who had allegedly conned businessmen by flaunting their high-level connections, including with Chandy who was then the Chief Minister.

The case broke out in June 2013 during Chandy's rule (2011-16) after reports surfaced that three staffers in the Chief Minister's Office had contacts with a couple who cheated many investors of money after promising to supply solar panels to them.

--IANS

sg/pgh/dg