Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radakrishnan announced in the Assembly on Thursday that ADGP (South Zone) A Hemachandran would investigate the telephone calls allegedly exchanged between the Chief Minister’s personal assistant Tenny Joppen and a “con woman”.
Saritha S Nair, arrested on charges of duping several people over a solar panel project, had reportedly used a Cliff House phone to make at least 70 calls to Joppen.
As the row over the alleged misuse of the Chief Minister’s office sparked an uproar in the Assembly for the second day with the Opposition clamouring for a judicial probe, Chandy said action would be taken only after an interim report was filed.
Not satisfied, the Opposition staged a walkout demanding that Joppen should be removed from the CM’s staff to ensure a transparent investigation.
Chandy denied his office had intervened on behalf of Saritha, who is facing 13 cases. The CPM’s Raju Abraham accused the government of intelligence lapses as the woman had allegedly visited the CM’s office. She cheated people by showing a letter purportedly from the CM saying her solar project was part of the ‘Emerging Kerala’ initiatives. Also, she had sponsored a police association programme, Raju alleged.