Bengaluru link to Kerala solar scam: D-gang threatened businessman
Bengaluru: The solar panel scam that is rocking the Kerala government seems to have strong connections with a city-based businessman, who had complained last year that he was one of the victims in the scam.
The Kerala government has now ordered an investigation into the complaints filed by several people, who have alleged that they were cheated in the name of solar panel business. Even before the scam blew into such a proportion, a Bengaluru-based coffee planter, M.K. Kuruvilla, had registered a complaint with the Kerala police in October 2012 that he was cheated by a solar panel company from Kerala.
Deccan Chronicle reported November 16, 2012 that Kuruvilla was getting threat calls from underworld operatives, including Ravi Poojary and associates of Dawood Ibrahim, after he complained to the Kerala police that he had been cheated of Rs 1 crore by a Kerala-based solar panel company.
Since June 2011, Kuruvilla had transferred parts of Rs 1 crore into different accounts and had also given cash to investors who approached him claiming to be from a company run by Kerala chief minister’s relatives. However, a year after investing the money, the solar panels project had not been sanctioned.
In October last year, a frustrated Kuruvilla met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who directed the Kerala Director General of Police to look into the matter. In his statement to the Kerala police, Kuruvilla stated that the accused claimed to have strong connections with Chandy’s office as his ‘nephew’ Andrews and ‘personal secretary’ Deljith were allegedly partners in the company.
Kuruvilla started getting threat calls after he returned to Bengaluru, with callers threatening to wipe out his family. Kuruvilla sought police protection from the city police.On Monday, when Deccan Chronicle called on Kuruvilla’s land line telephone, a family member, who answered the call, said the family had nothing to say about either the solar scam or the threats.
Interestingly, the Central Crime Branch, which was also part of initial investigations, refused to confirm whether Kuruvilla continued to get threat calls or the security for the businessman had been withdrawn. The officer concerned abruptly ended the conversation, saying he was busy.
A senior police officer, who was privy to the developments in the case, said that last year, the city police were involved in only providing security to Kuruvilla and the investigation was handled by the Kerala police. “We initially gave him police cover, but withdrew it later as the threat calls petered out over time,” he said.
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