Solar scam: Kerala government orders probe against Oommen Chandy, other Congress leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a setback to the Congress in Kerala, the LDF government on Wednesday ordered a series of inquiries, including vigilance inquiry, against former chief minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues and other party leaders for their involvement in the solar scam.

The "solar scam" had rocked the Chandy government (2011-16) after reports surfaced in June 2013 that three of the chief minister's office staff had contacts with a "couple" who cheated many investors by taking money in the name of supplying solar panels to them.

The state cabinet ordered vigilance inquiry against Oommen Chandy for accepting bribe and for providing undue benefits to Team Solar company.

The government accepted the probe report submitted by Justice G Sivarajan commission and decided to go ahead with further investigation against the former chief minister in the light of serious observations made by the probe panel.

The advocate general, who perused the report, recommended further probe into several incidents related to the scam.

The report is learnt to have said that former chief minister and his office staff accepted bribe from the Team Solar company for helping them to get orders to set up solar panels in various government departments. It also pointed out that former power minister Aryadan Mohammad had given undue benefits and support to the Team Solar company.

The commission report pointed out that the then home minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan had intervened in the investigation into the solar scam to save Chandy. Apart from this, former MLAs Benny Behnnan and Thampanoor Ravi had intervened in the investigation to save the then chief minister.

The report also points to the involvement of former ministers Adoor Prakash and AP Anil Kumar, and leaders like KC Venugopal and Hibi Eaden.

The government also decided to order inquiry against those whose names have been mentioned by Saritha S Nair in the letter written to the investigating team while she was serving jail sentence. This letter was later produced by Saritha before the judicial commission. The commission has also recommended probe into allegations of sexual exploitation by Saritha S Nair against some Congress leaders.