Saritha Nair, the high profile accused in the inter-State ‘solar panel scam’ case in which the names of several Kerala politicians including former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has been dragged, on Tuesday claimed that former Union Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam (DMK) was also in the loop in the scandal. However, she did not elaborate on what his role in the scam was or the specific charge against him.
Saritha, who interacted with reporters at the Coimbatore Integrated Court complex after attending trial at the Judicial Magistrate Court VI, claimed that she had named Mr. Palanimanickam, former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and a few others in her statement to the Commission set up by the Kerala Government to probe the scam.
According to her, she had mentioned 13 politicians and submitted evidences to support her allegations. She had full faith in the commission and trusted that its findings would reflect the truth.
Saritha along with a few others is accused of cheating some people in Coimbatore by promising installation of solar panels.
The Magistrate hearing the case, Raja Velu, posted the case for hearing on August 19. Meanwhile, efforts to contact Mr. Palanimanickam over phone for his reactions were in vain.
