THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Chief Minister’s statement, however, contradicted the special investigation team’s report that it recovered an acknowledgement letter issued by the Chief Minister’s office for a contribution by Team Solar to the CM’s relief fund. The letter signed by Chief Minister’s private secretary P S Sreekumar was issued on the same date when Sreedharan Nair claimed to have met the CM with Saritha. The letter was later fabricated by Saritha and Biju as a letter promoting Team Solar.
The Commission said the special investigation team had also confirmed the presence of Saritha, Sreedharan Nair and then personal staff member Tenny Jopan in the Secretariat on the day. Chandy said Sreedharan Nair met him at his office to appraise the issues of the crusher owners’ association. He said he was unaware of other claims.
Chandy said solar scam accused Biju Radhakrishnan met him at the Ernakulam Guest House to discuss the latter’s family issues. The allegations of business dealings between his son Chandy Oommen and Delhi-based Thomas Kuruvilla were baseless. Chandy deposed that he had met Saritha thrice before her shady dealings surfaced. “She met me to hand over a cheque for `1 lakh as contribution to the CM’s Disaster Relief Fund. Later, she met me to submit a memorandum related to her business. The third was at the Jalanidhi function at Kadaplamattom but I cannot recollect what she told me on the stage of the function,” he said.
‘Nothing wrong in appearing before Commission’
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday said there was nothing wrong in his appearance before the judicial commission probing the solar panel scam. He was referring to a newspaper article in the CPM mouthpiece “Desabhimani” while deposing before the commission. “Contrary to the Opposition claims of Rs 10,000-crore fraud in the case, the police team found that the money involved was `6 crore. The commission was appointed to reveal the truth in the case,” he said. “The commission was appointed by my government which has staunch belief in the judicial system. It would have been unfair if I didn’t appear,” he said.