K C Venugopal, member of Parliament from Kerala and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, on Saturday said he would retire from public life if charges against him on the multi-crore solar scam case are proved.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) government in Kerala has filed an FIR against Mr. Venugopal, among others, in connection with the solar power panel scam.
The State unit of the BJP in Karnataka had protested against Mr. Venugopal on Friday, alleging that he had sexually assaulted the prime accused in the solar panel scam case, Saritha Nair.
Mr. Venugopal, who flagged off the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus service from Bengaluru to Alappuzha in Kerala, said he has been in public life for many years and there has “not been a single black spot” in his entire political career.
The Opposition parities had levelled such charges against him in the past, particularly during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, he said.
Defamation case
There are several pending criminal cases against the alleged prime accused Ms. Nair, he said.
The Congress leader added that he had filed a defamation case against Ms. Nair in an Ernakulam court. “If charges are proved against me, I will retire from public service,” Mr. Venugopal said.