Kochi: The Solar Commission on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Saritha Nair, the prime accused in the scam, for not attending the trial despite repeated warnings.
The commission has directed her to appear before the commission by June 27 or else she would face arrest. Saritha, who has been giving unknown reasons for her non-appearance, had earlier failed to appear before the commission four times.
Read: Solar scam: Prime accused Saritha Nair drags Kerala CM’s son into controversy
The solar scam surfaced when Saritha Nair and her business partner Biju Radhakrishnan were arrested in 2013 on charges of cheating numerous investors, who paid money for solar panels.
Deposing before Justice Sivarajan Commission, which is probing the solar scam, Nair had earlier accused former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet colleague Arayadan Mohammed of accepting a bribe of Rs. 1.9 crore.
Read: Solar scam: CM phoned mom asking not to reveal details, says prime accused
The case took a political turn with the arrest of one of Chandy's close aides, who has alleged links with the accused. Two other employees in his personal staff are also under the scanner in connection with the scam.
Earlier on Tuesday, former chief minister Oommen Chandy appeared before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and deposed in the defamation case filed by him against Saritha. Chief Judicial Magistrate S. Aji Kumar took the statement of Chandy and adjourned the case for one month. Chandy spent 20 minutes at the court deposing against Saritha.
Read: Oommen Chandy deposes against Saritha S Nair
Former minister K. Babu, Hibi Eden MLA and former mayor Tony Chammany accompanied him to the court. He had filed a defamation case against two news channels and Saritha for broadcasting a 'fake' letter alleging that Mr Chandy had sex with her at his official residence.
Read: Saritha Nair letter says Oommen Chandy sexually abused her
