Published On : Fri, Jan 29th, 2016

Solar scam: Kerala HC stays FIR order for two months as a big relief to CM Chandy

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Chief Minister Oommen Chandy

File pic

Kerala/Nagpur: Kerala High Court on Friday stayed a vigilance court order to register an FIR against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the solar scam, providing a breather to the Congress-led ruling coalition.

Chandy had moved High Court against the Thrissur court order directing the vigilance department to register an FIR based on prime accused Saritha Nair’s statement that she paid him a bribe of Rs 1.90 crore.

Opposition Left parties which are agitating for Chandy’s resignation immediately reacted saying the stay was just “a technical issue.”

“The CM has no moral right to continue in office. People of Kerala see through his excuses,” CPI(M) leader MA Baby told.

Congress leader KV Thomas countered that by saying the Left parties were “just being desperate with only 2-3 months left for state elections.”

Earlier in the day, prime accused Saritha Nair again deposed before the judicial commission probing the scam.

She reportedly told the panel that she had business relations with the CM’s son and that Chandy had asked her to make his son a business partner.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties are holding massive protests across the state demanding Chandy’s resignation.

Members of the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) fought with police outside the state Secretariat.

Protesters pelted stones and braved tear gas shells as they tried to break through police barricades outside the Secretariat.

The Congress leadership has been backing Chandy in the case.”It is election time in Kerala, mischievous and malicious allegations will continue to fly… No need for the Kerala Chief Minister to resign now,” Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.