Solar scam: Panel serves notice to Kerala CM Chandy, ministers

Kochi, Jul 17: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was on Friday served notice by a commission probing the solar panel scam which had rocked the state in 2013.

Besides Chandy, the Justice Sivarajan Commission also issued notice to several politicians, including state ministers and legislators against whom several witnesses gave statements and submitted evidence during their examination.

Notices have been issued on the basis of Section 8 (B) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, which says that persons likely to be prejudicially affected by the inquiry to be heard.

However, there is no compulsion for the CM and others to appear before the Commission because of the notice as it was meant to give them a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the inquiry and to produce evidence in their defence.

The commission, headed by retired High Court judge G Sivarajan, has examined several people, including politicians from the opposition on whether the government suffered any financial loss due to the alleged deals.

The solar case relates to duping of several persons by the two prime accused Saritha S Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan after promising to install solar power panels for them.

While Saritha was granted bail after being behind bars for some nine months, Biju Radhakrishnan is still in jail.

After the scam broke out, the opposition had demanded resignation of Chandy as the names of two of his personal staff had come up during the probe.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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