Kerala's infamous solar scam entered yet another ugly phase on Thursday with a lawyer threatening to release video-clippings showing the sexual relationship between con woman Saritha S Nair, one of the main perpetrators of the scam, and Congress' Union Minister of State KC Venugopal and other top personalities.
Jacob Mathew, lawyer of Biju Radhakrishnan, former husband of Saritha Nair and main accused in most of the scam-related cases, said that he had in his possession videos showing the sexual relationships between her and Venugopal, Kerala Tourism Minister AP Anilkumar (Congress), former Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police MR Ajithkumar and others.
"The videos show Saritha in sexual relationship with these people at the Guest House in Thekkadi, houses of Venugopal's friends in Delhi and other places. I am ready to release these videos after getting written permission from Biju Radhakrishnan," Jacob Mathew told newsmen in Kollam on Thursday, adding that he was also in possession of Saritha's diaries.
Venugopal challenged the lawyer to release the video if he had it with him instead of issuing threats. "I have been hearing of these blackmail attempts for quite long now. (Opposition leader) VS Achuthanandan and Biju Radhakrishnan should release the video immediately," he said in Delhi, adding that a criminal conspiracy was going on against him.
Achuthanandan had the other day accused Chief Minister Oommen Chandy of taking no action even after he had come to know that a Union Minister and two ministers in his Cabinet were exploiting Saritha sexually. He had charged Chandy with
breach of privilege for his alleged inaction.
lawyer Jacob Mathew said, "I am ready to give these videos and other proofs to the officials if an investigation is ordered into this matter. But I will give it to the probe agency only in the presence of the media." He rejected the allegations that his claim was part of a bid to ensure Biju Radhakrishnan's safety.
NV Raju, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences), Ernakulam had recently told the High Court's Vigilance Registrar that Saritha had stated before him in July that certain Ministers had sexually exploited her. Judge Raju had, however, said that he did not take her seriously when she revealed the identities of these Ministers.
Biju had some days ago told the media that he was certain that the leaders Saritha had referred to were Venugopal, Anilkumar and Ganesh Kumar. But Saritha's lawyer Fenny Balakrishnan, who according to SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan was the first person to speak of Venugopal's links with Saritha, termed Biju's allegation as part of a blackmailing bid.
Referring to Biju's allegation against Venugopal, Anilkumar and Ganesh Kumar, Saritha had earlier this week said that he had not entrusted her former husband with the task of speaking on her behalf. "Please grant me my privacy," she said. Biju had said in June itself that Ganesh Kumar
had sexual relationship
with Saritha.
