Saritha S Nair, Biju Radhakrishnan get 3-year jail term in solar scam

Kochi:  The Perumbavoor Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Friday awarded three-year jail term to Saritha S. Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan,  the two accused in the solar scam. This is the first conviction in the solar scam cases  out of the 32 registered against them for  cheating several persons promising solar panels and wind mills. The court let off their co-accused, actor Shalu Menon, her  mother Kala Devi  and another person in the case. The court convicted the two  under section 420 (cheating) of IPC  and  imposed a fine of Rs 10,000.

The prosecution case was that the duo cheated Sajad of Murickal near Perumbavoor by promising to deliver solar panels and taking Rs 40 lakh from him.  The solar scam broke out after the arrest of Saritha in this case. The then Perumbavoor DySP had arrested Saritha which resulted in a judicial probe. Shalu Menon and her mother  were charged with aiding the accused while one Manimon was charged with handing over fake identity cards to Saritha and Biju.  The court found that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against them and let  them off for want of evidence.