Saritha claimed close links with CM, panel told

KOCHI: Money was handed over to the accused in solar scam believing their claims that they were close to chief minister Oommen Chandy and then Union minister Farooq Abdullah, the complainants told the judicial commission investigating the scam on Monday.
The complainants who deposed before the commission headed by Justice G Sivarajan included Sajad of Mudickal near Perumbavoor and Abdul Majeed of Ernajippalam in Kozhikode.They told the commission that they were cheated of Rs 40 lakh each by Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S Nair, who went by the names Dr R B Nair and Lakshmi, respectively. The promise was to install solar windmills at their residences and offices.
Monday was the first day of the examination of complainants which was conducted at the Kochi office of the commission.
Sajad told the commission that he was shown a letter pad with the signature and seal of the chief minister by Biju Radhakrishnan. He also showed the phone numbers of members of the personal staff of the chief minister such as Jikkumon Jacob and Tenny Joppan and claimed that he had close relationship with them, the commission was informed.
According to Sajad, he enquired with Jikkumon about Dr R B Nair and Lakshmi and their solar project and he was told that they are regular visitors to the chief minister's office. Jikkumon told him that the duo has the capability to implement the project they have undertaken, Sajad informed the commission.
Further, Sajad has told the commission that he met Jikkumon through Facebook in 2012 and he had contacted Jikkumon on his phone using the number he obtained from the social networking portal. A total of Rs 40 lakh was paid in two instalments after this and Biju promised that he will present the solar project at the Emerging Kerala programme to be held at Kochi and get it passed as he is a partner in the meet.
Sajad and Majeed were told that the solar project will be inaugurated by the chief minister and the Union minister. Biju claimed that he has close links with the Union minister and his son, the complainants informed the commission.