Kochi Police Register Fresh Case Against Solar Scam Accused for Rs 29 Lakh Fraud
In a significant development, the Kadavanthra police in Kochi have registered a fresh criminal case against Biju Radhakrishnan, the prime accused in the infamous 2013 Solar Scam. The new case involves allegations of duping a native of Nilambur of a substantial sum of Rs 29 lakh and issuing serious threats against him.
Details of the Accused and the FIR
The case has been officially registered against four individuals: Biju Radhakrishnan, also known as Biju George, who serves as the managing director of the NGO Help Foundation based in Kakkanad; Nisha Peter from Berlin; and Venugopal. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the primary accused, Biju Radhakrishnan, employed a deceptive pseudonym to establish a relationship with the complainant starting in 2021.
Biju falsely presented himself as a senior lawyer practicing at the Supreme Court, while claiming that Nisha Peter was his wife and also a senior legal professional. He further asserted that Nisha possessed expertise as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) consultant, skilled in securing CSR funds from various corporate entities.
The Fraudulent Scheme and Financial Loss
Trusting these false representations, the complainant proceeded to establish a society named Swanthanam Health Animal Welfare and Rural Development Charitable Trust. Subsequently, he made multiple payments totaling Rs 20 lakh, which were described as CSR fund processing charges. Additionally, he disbursed Rs 7 lakh for the purchase of an ambulance and Rs 2 lakh for documentation fees, bringing the total financial loss to Rs 29 lakh.
The situation escalated when the complainant attempted to recover his funds by filing a police complaint. In response, the second accused, Nisha Peter, allegedly contacted him and issued threats, warning that a rape case would be falsely implicated against him, thereby tarnishing his reputation.
Legal Proceedings and Police Investigation
The complainant, a 28-year-old individual, took the matter to the Ernakulam judicial first class magistrate-VIII by filing a private complaint. Based on the instructions from the magistrate court, the FIR was formally registered. Initially, the police hesitated to register the case, citing the unavailability of transaction details. However, following the court's directive, the Kadavanthra police initiated a thorough probe after officially registering the FIR on January 31.
This case adds another layer to the legal troubles of Biju Radhakrishnan, who has been a central figure in the Solar Scam that rocked Kerala over a decade ago. The investigation is ongoing as authorities delve into the specifics of the alleged fraud and threats.
