My conscience is clear: Chandy on sexual favours allegations

Thiruvananthapuram: "Pained" at charges that he sought sexual favours in the Rs.6 crore solar panel scam, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said his "conscience is clear".

Biju Radhakrishnan, prime accused in the scam, while testifying before the judicial probe committee, said on Wednesday that he had given Rs.5.50 crore as bribe to Chandy.

He also said he was in possession of a video showing Saritha Nair, the second accused in the scam, in a compromising position with Chandy and another video of Nair, again in a compromising position, with two cabinet colleagues of Chandy.

The Left opposition led by senior CPI-M legislator E.P. Jayarajan raised the issue in the house on Thursday.

To this, Chandy responded: "My conscience is clear. I will not fall a victim to blackmail politics and I will walk with my head held high... it (the allegations) has pained me. I have done nothing wrong."

He said the judicial commission was probing the scam which surfaced in 2013 and that he will take legal steps against the fresh allegations.

Chandy said there is no truth in the accusations made by Radhakrishnan, an accused in a murder case and in 58 other cases of cheating.

"Radhakrishnan is angry towards my government because we started a probe into the murder of his wife in which he (Radhakrishnan) is an accused," Chandy said.

Soon, Labour Minister Shibhu Baby John was also on his feet and said he was hurt when his name was dragged in the scam.

"Yesterday, when my name came, it hurt me... I wish to place on record that if it's proved that I have ever met this person (Saritha Nair) or even made a telephone call, I will resign as minister and quit public life," he said.

When Speaker N. Sakthan disallowed an adjournment motion, the entire opposition was up in arms and trooped near the speaker's chair, shouting slogans. The Speaker then adjourned the house for the day.