High Court expresses displeasure over probe of Solar cases

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state Director General of Prosecutions to file a statement by Tuesday as to who is conducting the investigation of cases relating to Solar Panel scam and other questions relating to the merits of the case. The direction was issued by Justice S S Sateeshchandran during hearing of bail applications of TV actress Shalu Menon and Tenny Joppen, former private secretary of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, both accused in the solar scam, which is rocking the state for the past two months. Investigation into the Solar scam is being conducted by Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by ADGP K Hemachandran, while the chargesheet in some of the cases has been filed by another officer.

As the provisions of CRPC does not enable such a procedure, the Judge directed the Director of Prosecution to file a statement by Tuesday. When Joppen's bail application came up, the court orally expressed its displeasure at not getting definite answers regarding investigation of the case from Advocate General K P Dandapani. The court said having gone through the case diary, there should be not be a 'miscarriage' of justice.

The bail applications of both the accused were adjourned to Tuesday. Though the AG made a request to prohibit the media from publishing the proceedings of the case, the court declined to accept the plea.