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Kerala CM refuses to undergo lie detection test in solar scandal

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Kerala CM refuses to undergo lie detection test in solar scandal

The suggestion for the polygraph was made by Biju's counsel when the chief minister denied the allegation during his deposition before the commission that is looking into the allegations that the government had lent its machinery to the couple to cheat several people millions of rupees.

Published: Wed 27 Jan 2016, 6:19 PM

  • By
  • T.K. Devasia

Trivandrum: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has refused to undergo a lie detection test over solar scam prime accused Biju Radhakrishnan's allegation that he had paid a bribe of Rs.55 million for favours from the government.
Biju, who is in jail in connection with the murder of his first wife, had also alleged that Chandy had sexual relations with his business and former live-in partner Saritha Nair. Though he claimed he had the video tapes to prove his allegation, he failed to produce it before the Justice G Sivarajan commission probing the scam.
The suggestion for the polygraph was made by Biju's counsel when the chief minister denied the allegation during his deposition before the commission that is looking into the allegations that the government had lent its machinery to the couple to cheat several people millions of rupees.
This is the first time that a chief minister in the state has been questioned by a judicial commission. The deposition which started at 10.30 am on Monday lasted till 1 am on Tuesday with only two brief breaks for lunch and dinner. The demand for the polygraph test was made by Biju's counsel by pointing out the willingness expressed by his client to undergo the test. The chief minister rejected the demand, saying that he had not done anything wrong. He said that the charges against him were politically motivated.
"I act according to my conscience and I do not lie. So there is no need to undergo a lie-detection test," he said adding that neither he nor his office had given any favours to Team Solar, the company floated by Biju and Saritha.
He claimed that no financial losses were incurred by the state in the scam that came to light in 2013 following a revelation that some of the chief minister's personal staff were in close contact with Saritha. Chandy pointed out that the government had taken action against those who had allegedly assisted the scam accused.
He said that the state police had also registered 33 cases against the couple for cheating and in one case the court had convicted the duo. The government had appointed the judicial commission following huge protests from the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF).



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