Kerala Sleaze: CM Oommen Chandy Under Pressure

The Congress Party finds itself in a tight spot, as its Chief Minister in Kerala, Oommen Chandy has been under tremendous pressure to resign following the allegations of sleaze, financial fraud and patronage to the fraudsters in the infamous solar panel scam. Chandy, who has the backing of UDF and central leadership, has refused to succumb to the pressure created by the opposition Left parties.

The protesters staged a demonstration in front of the Kerala Assembly, resulting in a pitched battle with the policemen deployed there. The Left parties have called for a 12-hour bandh in Kerala tomorrow. Chandy has termed all allegations as baseless and a conspiracy to malign him.

Oommen Chandy is accused of intimacy with a woman, Saritha Nair, who is a key accused in the solar panel scam. Chandy reportedly met her many times in office and his aides exchanged SMSes and phone calls with her frequently. Actress Shalu Menon, who also played a key role in the scam, was close to many Congress Ministers from the state, a Union Minister, MLAs and MPs.

Team Solar partners Saritha Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan are now under the police custody. They allegedly duped many investors using their political connections. Businessman Sreedharan Nair, who was cheated of Rs 40 lakh, had claimed that he visited Chandy’s office with Saritha S Nair.