Waiting for judge to be named for solar scam probe: Chandy

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The government is waiting to hear from the Kerala High Court on its request to name a sitting judge for heading a judicial probe ordered into the solar scam case, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Tuesday.

"We have received the Left opposition's letter stating that the probe's terms of reference should included the chief minister and his office," Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting held here.

"Please wait till we hear from the high court on the request for a sitting judge to head the probe," added Chandy.

Last Friday, the cabinet gave its nod for a judicial probe into the solar scam.

The solar scam case has been making headlines in the state for two months.

The case revolves around businesswoman Saritha Nair and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan who allegedly defrauded people by offering solar energy solutions at huge discounts. After large sums of money were collected, the two failed to make good their promises. Large numbers of complaints against them were received by police.

Telephone call records of the alleged fraudsters, who are under arrest, showed they had been in close touch with people in high offices in the state.

While one member of Chandy's personal staff was arrested in the case, two others lost their jobs.

The opposition has been demanding that the chief minister should resign, to enable an unbiased probe.