Chandy downplays statement of solar complainant

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today sought to downplay a statement given by a complainant in solar scam that he had met him along with prime accused Saritha Nair last year.
The complainant Sreedharan Nair had made five different statements on the same issue and "why one should take this statement at face value?" Chandy asked during the media briefing on the cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat.
However, cabinet briefing was held at his official residence as Chandy had been advised complete rest after he suffered injury in stone pelting on Sunday last when LDF protest demonstration demanding his resignation over solar scam turned violent.

After two-days treatment in medical college hospital here, he was discharged yesterday.
"I know why Sreedharan Nair changed his statements five times. I will reveal the reason one day and not now," Chandy added.
In the statement, given to the First Class Judicial Magistrate court at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district in July last under CrPC section 164 (recording of confessions and statements), that surfaced yesterday, Nair also claimed that during their meeting Chandy told them that solar plants were vital to overcome power crunch and such ventures would get support like subsidy.

Referring to proposed LDF blockade of his official residence as part of their agitation from December 9, Chandy wanted the CPI-M and the front leadership to introspect whether it was correct to block the freedom of an elected Chief Minister in a democracy.

He said the Government would not use any police force against them, but "people will react and will give a fitting reply."
Chandy displayed to media the injury mark on his chest and asked "what more is needed ? when asked about CPI-M State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan's remark that it was to get people's sympathy that Chandy got himself admitted in medical college hospital."
The solar scam pertains to alleged cheating of several persons of huge sums of money by Saritha and Biju Radhakrishnan through their firm, offering solar energy solutions.
The opposition LDF has launched a sustained campaign over the issue alleging that the fraudsters had the support of the Chief Minister's Office.

The Government has recently set up the judicial commission headed by former Kerala High Court judge G Sivarajan to probe the scam.