HC criticises functioning of Solar Commission

Kochi: The High Court on Tuesday criticized Solar Judicial Commission over the way key accused Biju Radhakrishnan was taken to different places on December 10 to 'discover' the purported video clippings in which six 'powerful' state politicians, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, were seen talking to his partner Saritha S Nair and 'enaging in wrong situations'.

The High Court observed that the Commission did not follow the rules that should be followed while taking a murder accused out to collect evidences.

“It was the Sessions court that let the accused be present before the Commission. So it was not right from the part of the Commission to send the accused out without the permission of that court,” the court said.

It was the exchequer’s money that was used to take the accused out. What is surprising is nobody is question all these acts, the court said.

The three-member bench, comprising Justice Kemal Pasha and two others, made the observations while considering a plea filed by one of the victims of the solar fraud.

The bench also said there was nothing wrong in the Home Minister criticising the commission’s functioning.