Kerala Solar Scam: Saritha Nair Arrested On Charges Of Fraud

The prime accused in the solar panel scam Saritha Nair was arrested by the Kasaba police on Thursday.

Recently, a warrant was issued by the Kozhikode Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court following which she was taken into custody in the morning from her house in Thiruvananthapuram.

The businesswoman earlier failed to appear before the court for a final hearing even after issuing multiple warrants. District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) A.V. George said Nair would be produced before the magistrate soon.

As per reports, a complaint was filed by Kozhikode-based Industrialist Abdul Majeed against Saritha Nair and  Biju Radhakrishnan- the two accused in the solar panel scam- with the police in 2012.  The Kozhikode native accused her of embezzling Rs 42.70 lakhs from him for providing franchise in their company besides installing solar panels in his office and house. However, neither was the contract executed nor the money refunded, in the first cheating case registered in connection with the solar scam, claimed the industrialist.

The verdict of this case was expected in March, however, the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court adjourned it since the accused did not turn up.

Meanwhile, there were allegations against the police that they were deliberately delaying the arrest of Saritha Nair. Also, they resorted to the “out of court” settlement efforts on her part.

In December 2013, the chargesheet against the accused was submitted in court and the trial began in 2016. The prime accused have been tried in two other similar cases at the Magistrate’s court at Koyilandy and Vadakara.

Saritha S Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan had allegedly conned numerous people of crores of rupees assuring them to install solar panels, offering franchise and jobs in their company, Team Solar Renewable Energy Solutions Company said.