CPI-M protest demanding resignation of Chandy turns violent

Thiruvananthapuram: A protest by CPI-M activists demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the wake of bribery allegation by the prime accused in the solar scam Thursday turned violent following which police used tear gas shells and batons to quell the protest.

The protestors, who assembled in front of the state secretariat, threw stones at the police and tried to break the police cordon in the front of the secretariat.

Police burst tear gas shells, used water cannons and batons to quell the agitators.

The agitators raised slogans demanding resignation of Chandy and moved towards the Cantonment gate of the secretariat when police used tear gas shells and water cannons.

CPI-M leader and MLA V Sivankutty led the protest.

Prime accused in the solar case, Saritha S Nair, had yesterday targeted Chandy and Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed while deposing before the Justice Sivarajan Commission in Kochi and had alleged that she had paid bribes to the tune of Rs 1.90 crore to a close aide of the Chief Minister and Rs 40 lakh to Mohammed.

Both had denied the allegation.

Solar scam pertains to cheating of several persons worth crores of rupees by Saritha and her co-accused Biju Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions.

The two allegedly canvassed business by using high-level names including that of Chandy.

While Saritha was granted bail after remaining behind bars for nearly nine months, Radhakrishnan is still in jail.