Kerala solar scam accused says politicians 'used' her

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 1  Saritha Nair, one of the prime accused in the solar panel scam in Kerala, on Monday deposed before a judicial commission, and said she was "used physically and mentally" by many politicians.

Nair also handed over three CDs and documents to prove her allegations.

In her deposition before the judicial commission, she said she was "used physically and mentally" by many politicians of the state.

"Today, I handed over CDs -- both audio and video -- that include conversations between Congress leader Thampanoor Ravi, Congress legislator Benny Behanan, Oommen Chandy's ousted security guard Salim Raj and businessman Abraham Kallimannel, who is in a threatening mood asking me not to divulge anything more.

"I will bring more evidence," Nair told reporters after her deposition for the fourth consecutive day.

Nair and her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan were arrested in 2013 on charges of cheating numerous investors, who paid money for solar panels.

Over 30 cases of cheating against the two have been registered in various courts. Police estimate that they cheated investors to the tune of over Rs.6 crore.

While Nair is out on bail, Radhakrishnan is in jail on charges of murdering his first wife.

Nair alleged that she paid Rs.1.9 crore in two instalments which, she claimed, was part of the Rs.7 crore bribe demanded by Chief Minister Chandy. She also said Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed was given Rs.40 lakh as bribe.

Chandy and Mohammed have both denied the allegations.

In a related development, Thrissur vigilance court judge S.S. Vasan, who ordered further probe against Excise Minister K. Babu in the bar scam and also an FIR to be registered against Chandy and Aryadan Mohammed in the solar panel case, on Monday took back his resignation.

He had put in his papers, seeking voluntary retirement, following a dressing down by the Kerala High Court which stayed both his orders.