Solar scam: Court orders FIR against Kerala CM Oommen Chandy, Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed

KOCHI: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government fell into a deep crisis on Thursday when the Thrissur Vigilance Court ordered registration of an FIR against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and power minister Aryadan Mohammed in the solar scam case.

The order was issued after considering a petition filed by activist PD Joseph seeking inquiry into the allegations raised by Saritha Nair that she paid Rs 1.90 crore to the CM and Rs 40 lakh to Aryadan Mohammed in return for the state government’s support for her solar power project. In the wake of the order, the Opposition parties — the CPM and BJP — demanded Chandy’s resignation that was outrightly rejected by the CM. Chandy had to face the ire of the youth wing of the CPM and BJP in Kozhikode and Malappuram as they waved black flags at him. Chandy said that his strength was his clean conscience.

Deposing before the solar scam inquiry commission Saritha Nair said some of her visitors in the jail were Chandy’s trusted persons. She had spoken against the CM to the additional chief judicial magistrate. After this the CM’s representatives met her in the jail. Nair said she was assured of all help by the CM in the cases that were registered against her. The personal assistant of former minister Ganesh Kumar spoke to her on behalf of the CM, Nair said.

The UDF government suffered another blow when the RSP MLA from Kunnathur, Kovoor Kunjumon, announced his resignation from the assembly and from all party posts. He said he was quitting from the UDF alliance and would work with the Left Front in Kerala.