KOCHI: Deposing before the Commission probing the Solar scam case on Thursday, key accused Biju Radhakrishanan stood by his earlier statement that he was possessing video tapes of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, two ministers, an MLA and two others having conversations and physical relationship with Saritha S Nair. He agreed to submit all the evidence, including the video tapes, by December 10.
The State Government had filed a petition requesting the Commission to use its power and seize the evidence, including the controversial tapes, from Biju. On this, the Commission asked Biju whether he could produce the evidence, based on which he raised allegations against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and others. Biju agreed to produce the evidence and asked 15 days’ time for it. However, the Commission decided to give him time until December 10 to produce all the evidence. The Commission also decided to consider the petition filed by the government only after December 10.
Various counsels representing the parties impleaded by the Commission asked questions to Biju about the video tapes. He stood by his statement that there are videos of Saritha having physical relationship with Oommen Chandy, Shibu Baby John, K P Anil Kumar, Aryadan Shoukath, son of Aryadan Muhammad, Hibi Eden MLA and Nazarulla, personal assistant of Anil Kumar.
Biju also submitted that he had disclosed about the controversial video tapes of the CM and others to a police team headed by ADGP A Hemachandran, after he was arrested in Kollam. The police team had recovered Biju’s laptop and flash-drive containing the video tapes. Similarly, he had disclosed about the involvement of the CM to Thamarassery DySP Jaison Abraham. Jaison told Biju that Saritha had already told him about the video tapes and involvement of the political leaders. Biju had disclosed about the involvement of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to Perumbavoor DySP Harikrishnan, and also raised allegations against various politicians at a secret statement recorded by the Tirur Judicial First Class Magistrate under Section-164 of the CrPC.
On November 12, 2015, Biju met Saritha at the Muvattupuzha Magistrate Court. She asked him to talk to her driver Binu, who in turn stated that Saritha wanted Biju to reveal the involvement of Oommen Chandy, Shibu Baby John, Aryadan Shoukath and Basheer Ali Shihab Thangal to the Solar Commission. On Tuesday, before revealing the name of Oommen Chandy before the Commission, Biju’s advocate Mohankumar contacted Saritha, who maintained that the name of Oommen Chandy should be revealed before the Commission. Saritha is learnt to have contacted Mohankumar four times on Tuesday.
Biju said that he was harbouring vengeance against Oommen Chandy, who allegedly cheated him after taking money. He admitted to having filed a complaint at the Vigilance Court against the ministers who took bribe from him. He held discussions with his counsels regarding it the other day.
‘Reference Book’ Draws Attention
Kochi: Biju appeared before the Commission with a book titled ‘Art of Cross Examination’, authored by Y Ramarao. It was advocate John S Ralph, counsel for Chandy, who spotted the book. The Commission took the book from Biju and went through it. Later, advocate John S Ralph asked questions about the alleged involvement of the CM in the case. When Adv Ralph asked about details of the bribe paid to Chandy, Biju said he forgot whether the denomination of the currencies given to the CM was 1000 or 500.
LDF Plans Stir against Chandy, Babu
T’puram: The Left front on Thursday decided to launch strong agitations against the UDF government and CM Oommen Chandy, projecting the solar scandal and the bar bribery scam simultaneously. As part of it, the LDF will take out a protest march to the Secretariat and district administrative headquarters on December 11, seeking the resignation of Chief Minister and Excise minister K Babu. The LDF created a ruckus in the Assembly on Thursday, following the allegations that Chandy had taken `5.5. crore as bribe from Biju Radhakrishnan.