FIR registered against 3 Congress MLAs in Kerala solar scam

Ernakulam Congress legislator Hibi Eden and former state Minister Adoor Prakash have been charged with rape.

news Solar Scam

The Kerala police on Thursday registered an FIR against three Congress legislators, likely to be named Lok Sabha candidates, on a complaint of sexual misconduct.

The woman, an accused in the multi-crore solar energy investment scam, has charged Ernakulam Congress legislator Hibi Eden and former state Minister Adoor Prakash with rape. Another former state Minister AP Anil Kumar has been charged with outraging her modesty.

Hibi Eden has been charged under section 376 (rape) and section 354 A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).

MLA Adoor Prakash has been charged under section 376 (rape), section 354 (A) and section 120 (O) (causing through any means of communication nuisance to any person) of the Kerala Police Act.

MLA AP Anil Kumar has been charged under section 377 (unnatural sex), section 354 (A) (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and section 420 (cheating).

The FIR has been filed in a special court in Ernakulam set up to fast track cases against legislators.

According to sources, if an FIR is registered in the court, police can arrest the accused.

While Eden is likely to be fielded from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat, Prakash is being considered for either Attingal or Alappuzha, and Anil Kumar may get a ticket from Alathur.

Eden termed the FIR a ploy to sully the image of the Congress and its candidates. "It is an issue for them to use politically," he said.

Kochi-based solar company Team Solar Renewable Energy Solutions, floated by the woman and her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan, was accused of duping investors of crores of rupees for a solar power project.

The scam dogged the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in 2013 with allegations that the woman could hoodwink investors because of her proximity to the Chief Minister's office.

Then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's private secretary Tenny Joppan was also arrested in the case.

With IANS inputs