Solar Scam: Here’s What Saritha Nair Said on Sexual Abuse Charges

Saritha says that she did not want to get into private matters infront of the inquiry commission.

In perhaps the biggest controversy in the run-up to the assembly polls in Kerala, Asianet TV broke on Sunday the story of a letter written by solar-scam-accused Saritha Nair in 2013 claiming that several politicians, including a union minister and CM Oommen Chandy had sexually abused her in the past. Saritha also gave an interview to Asianet stating that the letter was true and authentic.

In response to these fresh allegations, sources close to CM Chandy put out documents of the solar commission inquiry in which Saritha Nair had categorically denied having been abused by Chandy.

This had led to questions being raised on the veracity of the fresh claims being made by Saritha Nair.

If it is indeed true that she was sexually abused by Oommen Chandy, then why did she deny that in January 2016, in front of the solar scam commission?

Is the Timing Suspect?

Speaking to The News Minute, Saritha reiterated that the 2013 letter and inquiry commission deposition are her own, but the discrepancy is because she had clearly stated before deposing that she will only talk about the scam, and not about the sexual abuse.

I had made it very clear that I will not be talking about my private affairs and harassment issues to the commission. That is not something I want to bring to this commission’s purview. When Biju Radhakrishnan asked if CM Chandy had behaved inappropriately, I said no to the commission. But the truth is in my 2013 letter.

Saritha Nair

But why confirm the letter now then? And isn’t the timing suspect?

My letter was not supposed to be leaked out and I have never leaked it. But when it did reach the media (Asianet), I decided to own up,” she said, “I’m not a politician and I have nothing to do with politics. If I had any intention of leaking this, I could have done it earlier when fingers were being pointed at me. My letter is being used for political purposes. I have no role in it.

Saritha Nair

“I stand by what I wrote in 2013. But I’m unhappy that the letter was leaked, though I’m helpless about it,” she added.

So who leaked it, then?

“I gave the letter to Balakrishna Pillai. Ask his family who leaked it,” she said, referring to the a veteran Kerala politician.

(Dhanya Rajendran is the Managing Editor and Co-Founder of The News Minute.)