Commission allows Biju to 'discover' video clippings

Kochi: In a dramatic turn of events, a judicial commission probing the solar panel scam Thursday allowed a prime accused in the case to "discover" purported video clippings in which six "powerful" Kerala politicians, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, talking to his partner Saritha S Nair and "engaging in wrong situations".

Hours after Justice G Sivarajan commission's directive, four police officials and a lawyer representing the Commission left along with prime accused Biju Radhakrishinan to the area, said to be out of Kerala, to "discover" the video clippings.

Radhakrishnan, who was allowed time till today to produce the video clippings before it, failed to do so.

He submitted an application before the Commission, requesting that he be given more time to produce the document.

He submitted that he was serving life term in jail in a case so that more time is required to produce the material.

The Commission, however, rejected his demand, saying he has levelled sensational allegations against those at the helm of the government and "it shall not hang as a Sword of Damocles" over their heads.

The Commission, which rejected Radhakrishnan's plea that his lawyer also be allowed to go with him to the spot where the video clippings are kept, sent its advocate Harikumar, two of its police personnel and two police personnel from the armed police along with him.

Earlier, during the brief hearing, the Commission said it would make arrangements to send Radhakrishnan "through proper method" to bring the evidence before it safely.

Deposing before the Commission on December 2, Radhakrishnan had said he had shown the videos of five politicians with Saritha to the Chief Minister.

He, however, did not deliberately show the sixth person's video as it was reportedly the CM himself. "I have evidence with me to prove this. I will produce it, if required," he had said in his deposition recorded on December 2.

Radhakrishnan, now serving life term in jail for murder of his first wife, said he had met Chief Minister while he was on the run following the arrest of Saritha after the scam came to light.

Both the Chief Minister as well as Saritha have denied the allegations of Radhakrishnan.

On the allegations levelled by the Opposition in the Assembly, Chandy had said that if there was even one per cent truth in the charges, he has no right to continue in public life or hold any post.

Chandy, replying to a notice for an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on the deposition by Radhakrishnan, had said he would take legal recourse to bring out the alleged CD and other "evidence" to reveal the truth.

Deposing before the commission on December 2, Radhakrishnan had said: "Police and media had said I was in Coimbatore.In such a situation, I went to Thiruvananthapuram via Nagercoil to meet the Chief Minister personally in a car arranged by a priest of Sucheendram temple because I was a trustee of that temple."

Radhakrishnan had allegedly cheated many people of lakhs of rupees along with Saritha after promising solar energy solutions.

"Two weeks before Saritha was arrested, I had got an evidence from the material which was in her possession. I don't know whether it (the evidence) was taken for blackmailing or for self defence. When I saw this, I felt a strong anger towards Saritha. Most probably, such an evidence would have been collected because of a woman's helplessness.

"... I don't know whether Saritha had collected the evidence using button camera or pen camera. Whatever it may be, the video clippings show six prominent persons talking to her and engaging in wrong situations," he had said in the open sitting of the Commission here.

Radhakrishnan had said five others who figure in the clippings included Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar, Hybi Eden, MLA, Congress leader Aryadan Shoukkath and one Nazarullah, a member of Anil Kumar's personal staff.

The solar scam which came into limelight in June 2013 had rocked Kerala. The Chief Minister's office was under a cloud over the solar panel scam.

After the scam broke out, the Opposition had demanded Chandy's resignation as the names of two of his personal staff had come up during probe.

During the hearing, Radhakrishnan had also alleged that he had personally given Rs 5.5 crore to Chandy and his aide in connection with setting up two big solar projects in the state.