Former Transport Minister and Janata Dal(S) leader Mathew T. Thomas on Tuesday deposed before the Justice G. Sivarajan Commission inquiring into the solar scam cases in which the UDF government led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had allegedly promoted a solar company owned by the two accused, Saritha Nair and Biju Radhakrishan, by creating a fear of power crisis among the people.
Mr. Thomas told the commission that the government had reduced the power generation at that time by opening the Idukki dam, saying that in case the Mullaperiyar dam burst, water from Mullapperiyar could be collected in the Idukki reservoir. Thus, the UDF government was trying to reduce the power generation for promoting the business interest of the solar company of the accused.
He informed the commission that the government had in fact made it compulsory for the installation of solar panel in residential buildings of above 2,500 sq ft as part of its efforts to help the accused. Mr. Thomas also alleged that these circumstances clearly showed the involvement of Mr. Chandy in the cases.
