<p>In the first verdict in the sensational solar panel scam which hit Kerala two years ago, a lower court today sentenced prime accused Saritha S Nair and her accomplice Biju Radhakrishnan to three years jail and imposed a hefty fine after finding them guilty of cheating and forgery.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The verdict was delivered by Judicial First Class Magistrate R Jayakrishnan on a complaint by NRI Baburaj that the accused had swindled about Rs 1.19 crore from him by offering a share in their company "Team Solar" and the post of Director.<br /><br />Both the convicts were present in the court.<br /><br />While Biju is behind bars since the past one year in connection with the murder of his wife, Saritha is out on bail.<br /><br />The court also imposed a fine of Rs 45 lakh on Saritha and Rs 75 lakh on Biju Radhakrishnan.<br /><br />It was also found them guilty of charges of fabricating documents and swindling money.<br />This is the first verdict in one of the 33 cases involving a total amount of Rs 6.85 crore registered in connection with the solar panel scam. A special investigation team was probing the case.<br /><br />Solar scam pertains to cheating of several persons of crores of rupees by Saritha and Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. The duo canvassed business by using high-level names, including that of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, according to the prosecution.<br /><br />The case that came to light in June 2013 took a political turn as three of Chandy's staff members were forced to quit and one of them, Tenny Joppen, was arrested over their alleged link with Saritha.<br /><br />The opposition had launched a vociferous agitation pressing for Chandy's resignation.<br />Following opposition pressure, the government had also set up a judicial commission to probe the scam. The commission is in the process of taking evidences from various witnesses. <br /></p>
<p>In the first verdict in the sensational solar panel scam which hit Kerala two years ago, a lower court today sentenced prime accused Saritha S Nair and her accomplice Biju Radhakrishnan to three years jail and imposed a hefty fine after finding them guilty of cheating and forgery.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The verdict was delivered by Judicial First Class Magistrate R Jayakrishnan on a complaint by NRI Baburaj that the accused had swindled about Rs 1.19 crore from him by offering a share in their company "Team Solar" and the post of Director.<br /><br />Both the convicts were present in the court.<br /><br />While Biju is behind bars since the past one year in connection with the murder of his wife, Saritha is out on bail.<br /><br />The court also imposed a fine of Rs 45 lakh on Saritha and Rs 75 lakh on Biju Radhakrishnan.<br /><br />It was also found them guilty of charges of fabricating documents and swindling money.<br />This is the first verdict in one of the 33 cases involving a total amount of Rs 6.85 crore registered in connection with the solar panel scam. A special investigation team was probing the case.<br /><br />Solar scam pertains to cheating of several persons of crores of rupees by Saritha and Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. The duo canvassed business by using high-level names, including that of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, according to the prosecution.<br /><br />The case that came to light in June 2013 took a political turn as three of Chandy's staff members were forced to quit and one of them, Tenny Joppen, was arrested over their alleged link with Saritha.<br /><br />The opposition had launched a vociferous agitation pressing for Chandy's resignation.<br />Following opposition pressure, the government had also set up a judicial commission to probe the scam. The commission is in the process of taking evidences from various witnesses. <br /></p>