Oommen Chandy lands in another crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: Oommen Chandy government in Kerala landed in another crisis with Vigilance Court, Thrissur, ordering registration of FIR against Chief Minister Mr. Chandy and Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed on Thursday.

Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) S. S. Vassan issued order even as accused in the solar scam Saritha S. Nair continued her disclosures before the Solar Scam Inquiry Commission in Kochi. The Court order was based on the testimony of Ms. Nair on Wednesday. Ms. Nair told the Commission today that Chief Minister’s emissaries had approached her to prevent disclosures before the magistrate enquiring into economic offences earlier. They had promised her to settle the cases related to money collected by her from clients promising solar power plants.

She also said that Mr. Chandy had spoken to her mother while she was in jail. In view of his assurance, she had replaced the 30 page letter prepared by her into a four page statement presented before the magistrate court.

She had talked over phone and met Chief Minister several times including once at his residence. Mr. Chandy had also invited her to the function at Kadaplamattom to discuss a project. He had recommended her company’s project to P. C. Vishanunath, MLA, for implementation in his constituency.

Meanwhile, Excise Minister K. Babu, who had resigned over the Thrissur court ordering registration of case against him in the bar-bribery case, got relief from the High Court which granted a two month stay on registering FIR.  However, quick verification report should be submitted by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau in ten days.

The Chief Minister said that he would discuss the development with the Congress high command and UDF constituents and take appropriate decisions. (An appeal is likely to be preferred before the High Court, according to sources).

Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan said that the Chief Minister should immediately step down. The allegations were of the nature of a more skilled pick pocket picking the pocket of a pick-pocket. CPI (M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also demanded the resignation of Mr. Chandy.

DYFI and SFI staged protests before the Secretariat demanding Mr. Chandy’s resignation. As the protesters tried to barge into the Secretariat, the police launched tear gas shells and resorted to a mild lathi charge. A few were injured.

Protesters blocked the vehicles of Mr. Chandy and Muhammed in Malappuram district. Black flags were shown to him at Kozhikode Railway station by BJP and DYFI workers.

A Congress spokesman said in Delhi that there was no need for the Chief Minister to resign at this stage. “We will seek legal remedies, wherever required.”