Kerala CM Oommen Chandy refutes LDF opposition charge

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 4:

, under attack from

opposition over the solar panel scam, today refuted the charge that government was not sincere in getting the service of a sitting High Court Judge to probe the case.

"I myself have written a letter to High Court Chief Justice again seeking the service of a sitting judge to probe the case after the High Court informed the government that it could not spare a judge", Chandy told reporters here during cabinet briefing.

"Let the LDF tell us, how the government should now approach the High Court for getting a sitting judge, if they were not satisfied with government stand", Chandy said.

On the finalisation of terms and reference of the probe, he said LDF had given its suggestions. The ruling UDF partners also discussed the issue.

Let the LDF tell us, how the government should now approach the HC, Chandy said.

"Once the High Court announce its decision to spare a judge, government would finalise the terms and references, Chandy said when asked about the delay in finalising the terms and references. Asked whether his office would come under the ambit of the probe, Chandy quipped "once the terms and reference is out, you will know. Otherwise your doubt will never be cleared."

The LDF had given a letter to the UDF leadership saying that any probe into the scam would be futile without including Chandy and his office in the terms of reference.

The scam relates to cheating people of huge sums by accused Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering solar energy solutions.

A Special Investigation Team probing the case has completed its inquiry.

The case assumed a serious political dimension with the arrest of Tenny Joppan, a Personal Assistant in the Chief Minister's office, for his alleged links with the accused. Joppan is out on bail.

LDF has been alleging that such a huge scam would not have taken place without the collusion of the Chief Minister.

PTI