Solar scam accused opts out of in-camera proceedings

Kochi, Feb 2 Saritha Nair, one of the prime accused in the solar panel scam in Kerala, on Tuesday told the judicial commission probing the case that she would not prefer in-camera proceedings but would hand over written statements on her trials and tribulations while in the solar panel business.

Deposing before the panel on Tuesday morning for the fifth consecutive day, Nair was told that she has two options -- either to give her statement during in-camera proceedings or in writing.

Nair said she preferred secrecy and chose the second option.

She said she would hand over two statements on her sufferings during the solar panel business.

"I will give two sealed covers to the commission, one would include all personal issues and the other would be related to business," Nair told reporters after coming out of the commission office in the afternoon.

Her deposition before the commission concluded on Tuesday.

On Monday, she said she was "used physically and mentally" by many politicians. She also handed over three CDs containing telephonic conversations between Congress leaders and documents to prove her allegations.

Like in the past few days, on Tuesday too she blamed Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and said he was responsible for the rise and the fall of their solar panel business.

She also said Congress legislators Benny Behanan and P.C. Vishnunath took money from her for their political needs, but no receipt was given.

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 Chandy. She also said Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed was given Rs.40 lakh as bribe. Chandy and Mohammed have both denied the allegations.