In a startling allegation, Biju Radhakrishnan, prime accused in Kerala’s infamous solar scam, on Wednesday charged that Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and several other ruling front leaders had sexually used con woman Saritha S Nair, his former live-in partner and co-accused in the solar fraud case. Biju also said Chandy and his office had taken Rs 5.5 crore as bribe from his company, Team Solar Energy Solutions.
While deposing before the Justice G Sivarajan judicial commission looking into the solar scam which had been haunting the Congress-led UDF Government since June, 2013, Biju said he had in his possession evidence of Chandy’s sexual relationship with Saritha in the form of video clippings, recorded by the con woman herself.
Biju, currently in prison, also told the commission that six other UDF leaders including labour Minister Shibu Baby John of the RSP, Tourism Minister AP Anil Kumar of the Congress, Aryadan Shoukath, son of senior Congress Minister Aryadan Muhammad and Congress legislator Hybi Eden, had sexually exploited Saritha.
Stating that he was stunned to see the video showing the relationship between Chandy and Saritha, he said he had shown Chandy the videos on her sexual relationships with five UDF men. He said he was ready to hand over the videos to the commission if directed to do so. His deposition before the commission will continue on Thursday.
Outside the commission’s office in Kochi, Biju told newsmen that everything that he told the panel was true. “There are several copies of these CDs. All those copies are in safe custody… I will decide on the next move after discussions with my lawyer. I will request the commission for security. There is threat to my life. Everyone connected to me is facing threats,” he said.
Rejecting Biju’s charge totally and emphatically, Saritha Nair challenged him to release the video if he had it in his possession. “There is no such video because nothing like this ever happened. I don’t want to comment on a lie. I will present before the commission everything I have to say on December 7,” she told the media.
Biju’s statements before the commission included details of the bribe he allegedly paid to Chandy for running his solar power business smoothly. According to him, he had paid Chandy Rs 5.5 crore as bribe. Of this, Rs 5.1 crore was paid directly to Chandy in three installments while the balance amount was paid through his former aides Jikkumon Jacob and Tenny Joppen.