Thiruvananthapuram: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, his aides Tenny Jopan, gunman Salim Raj, and Delhi aide Thomas Kuruvila doled out favors to Saritha S Nair and her company, as per the Justice (retired) Sivarajan Commission report tabled in the assembly Thursday.
The five-page recommendations of the commission are on pages 845-849 of Volume III of the report. The commission found that the then home and vigilance minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan made all efforts on his part to ensure that the then CM Chandy got extricated from criminal liability. However, other allegations against the former could not be backed by evidence, the commission said.
But cases can be booked under the CrPC, Anti-Corruption Act and other relevant Acts against the aforementioned, according to the report.
The then power minister Aryadan Muhammed had also extended favors to the solar firm. Cases can be filed against him too. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had 'strained much' by dubious methods to extricate and shield Chandy from criminal liability. It did not conduct a thorough probe into the interventions of minsters and government officials in the solar case, the report said.
The commission also found that all ministers who inaugurated the functions of Team Solar, the MLAs who recommended the firm for installing solar street lights in their constituencies had worked for 'saving CM Oommen Chandy.'
The commission makes references to former legislators Benny Behanan and Thampanoor Ravi as also having worked to save Chandy.
There is evidence that all persons mentioned in Saritha's letter on July 19, 2013 had contact with her and her advocate over phone.
It recommended the state government to seriously consider the applicability of the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against all those persons against whom corruption and illegal gratification have been alleged.
The panel also recommended that further inquiry by a competent authority was necessary to uphold the discipline of the police force. It also recommended action against GR Ajith, secretary of the Kerala Police Association, for indiscipline.
The report also slams jail authorities and police officers concerned for not taking steps for transportation of convicted and undertrial prisoners. It noted that in spite of intelligence reports that solar scam accused Biju Radhakrishnan would jump jail, he was taken to various courts both inside and outside the state only by two civil police officers by bus and train.
The commission report said steps should be taken for preservation of the CCTV visuals at least for a period of one year, with regard to the CCTVs installed at the Secretariat. It should be preserved by replacing the 500 GB hard disc installed once in 15 days when it becomes full or by transferring the visuals.
The functioning of ANERT, under the power department, also should be streamlined. This will enable the agency to secure the various benefits declared by the central government for the production, distribution, and development of solar energy.
Read more: Latest Kerala news | Solar report terms Chandy guilty; probe into Saritha Nair's sexual allegations