Two Kerala solar scam accused leave jail on bail

Boos and jeers greeted two solar scam accused as they walked out of two different Kerala jails on bail Saturday.

Accused actress Shalu Menon was released from a prison here and co-accused Tenny Jopan, former personal staff of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, came out of a jail in Pathanamthitta district, about 100 km from here.

In the capital city, anxious onlookers gathered in the morning, along with media crews, in front of the women's jail for a glimpse of Menon.

But it was not until 1.30 p.m that she came out and was greeted by jeers and boos.

She did not speak a word and refused to respond to mediapersons' questions.

The police had a tough time to get her seated in a car as onlookers surrounded her vehicle with one of them was lying down on the road in front of the vehicle in a bid to stop it from moving.

The man lying on the road was forcibly taken away and detained, police said.

Similar scenes were seen as co-accused Jopan came out of the jail.

He was heckled by the crowd and it was with great difficulty that he was put into his car.

Jopan like Menon also did not speak a word, despite being bombarded with a volley of questions by journalists.

The two accused got bail from the Kerala High Court Friday. Jopan was arrested June 28, while Menon was taken into custody July 11.

The case relates to the alleged fraud perpetrated by Saritha S. Nair and her former live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan, whose company Team Solar, promised to put up solar panels at discounted rates in offices and homes.

Nair and Radhakrishnan have 33 cases registered against them and face allegations of allegedly duping investors of about Rs.10 crore. Jopan and Menon were found to have close links with the two.

Jopan was arrested on a complaint from a businessman allegedly duped by Nair. Police found out that Jopan had a role in the cheating case.

Menon apart from having an alleged role in defrauding another businessman, was found to also have been a major custodian of the money that Radhakrishnan secured by cheating, police said.

The Left opposition has demanded that Chandy should quit over the case.

Chandy has announced a judicial probe into the case and the opposition has demanded that its terms of reference should include him and his office.