JOIN USThe much-anticipated written statement by one of the prime accused in the solar panel fraud case that “threatened” to expose ministers and other political leaders has stayed clear of names.
Sarita S Nair submitted her statement to the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM–economic offences) in Kochi on Monday through the superintendent of a jail where she is now lodged.
Reports said Sarita has claimed in the four-page statement that there was a threat to her life and that of her family from her former partner and Biju Radhakrishnan. Political circles here have been abuzz with speculations ever since Fenny Balakrishnan, Sarita’s advocate, said the original—and much longer—statement had prominent names in it.
Sarita recorded a confidential statement before the ACJM on July 20 following which the court asked her to produce a written statement.
The delay in producing the statement had led to the court’s criticism of the police investigation team. Sarita’s advocate was also under the scanner after a television channel reported that he was involved in mediating financial deals to remove some of the names from the statement.
The court later sought the statement directly from Sarita without the assistance of Fenny, which the opposition Left Democratic Front criticised as dubious.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that Sarita’s new statement was politically manipulated.
“The accused had already spoken about the threat to her life. Why did she have to submit a fresh statement to make the same claim? Her mother’s visit to the jail has to be seen as part of a deal being brokered.
The visit also provided relief for some of the leaders who are facing allegations of involvement in the case,” Vijayan told reporters on Monday.