Solar scam: Two accused granted bail by Kerala HC

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to Tenny Joppen, former private secretary of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and television actress Shalu Menon, both accused in the solar panel scam. The order in this regard was issued by Justice SS Sateeshchandran on the bail pleas of the two accused. [caption id=“attachment_1055879” align=“aligncenter” width=“380”]  A file photo of Tenny Joppan. PTI[/caption] While Tenny Joppen has to execute a bond for Rs 50,000 and two solvent sureties for the like amount, and has been directed by court to appear before investigating officers as and when required, Shalu Menon has been asked to execute a bond for Rs 1 lakh and two solvent sureties for the like amount and to appear before the investigating officer every Monday for eight weeks. Both the accused have been asked not to leave the state for six months. Joppen is in custody for over 52 days and Shalu for over 46 days. Shalu Menon was arrested in July on a complaint by Rafique Ali, who claimed that she had accompanied scam accused Biju Radhakrishnan when he collected over Rs 70 lakh from him and Joppen was arrested after it was found that accused Saritha S Nair had held telephonic conversations with him on many occasions. The scam pertains to financial cheating of several people by Biju Radkahrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering clients solar energy solutions. The accused allegedly used their clout in the CM’s office for duping their clients of huge sums. PTI