Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has alleged the charge is a political conspiracy and its timing is linked to the elections.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has filed a case for criminal defamation against solar scam accused Saritha Nair and journalists who reported an unaddressed letter written by Ms Nair in 2013 alleging sexual exploitation.
Mr Chandy alleges there is conspiracy against him because Assembly elections are underway in the state. Voting is scheduled for next month.
Ms Nair confirmed to a regional TV channel which aired the letter, that she had indeed written the 24-page letter. "Yes, this letter is mine and I wrote it in police custody. I will not discuss the contents, but all what I have written is correct," she said.
However, Ms Nair had not used this letter or levelled any such allegations against Mr Chandy before the Judicial Commission which is probing the scam. During the course of her deposition, she was asked by the commission of such rumors, to which Ms Nair had said, "There have never been such incidents".
In her earlier statements Ms Nair had also used words such as 'father-like person' to describe the chief minister. Ms Nair told the TV channel she wanted to give the letter to the Magistrate but could not do so. While Ms Nair was unreachable over the phone after the defamation case was filed, her lawyer CD Johnny told NDTV, "Saritha and I have had a detailed discussion on this issue. We are ready to give all the evidence to prove the statements made by Saritha Nair."
Questioning the timing of the letter, Mr Chandy had earlier said, "This has been going on since some time now. Every time there is some election nearing, this issue gets heated up for no reason. It's only another attempt to topple our government. I have even deposed before the judicial commission."
Ms Nair, along with her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan, has allegedly duped several businessmen by posing as close associates of Mr Chandy. The duo promised them solar panels which were never delivered. Over 30 cases of cheating against Ms Nair and Mr Radhakrishnan are registered in various courts. Police estimate they have cheated investors to the tune of over Rs. 6 crore.