The Kozhikode Magistrate Court has sentenced Saritha S Nair to six years rigorous imprisonment after finding her guilty in a cheating case related to the setting up of solar panels.
Saritha is the second accused in the case. While the first accused Biju Radhakrishnan had applied for leave as he is in quarantine, B Manimon, the third accused in the case has been acquitted. The case pertains to a cheating complaint filed by Abdul Majeed. He had accused Saritha of cheating him of Rs 42.70 lakh after promising to install solar panels at his residence and office.
Majeed was also allegedly offered the franchises of the firm, Team Solar, for Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram and Wayanad districts. He was also offered partnership in a windmill project.
Though the trial in the case was finished in October 2018, the announcement of the verdict was deferred four times till April 2019. Following the arrival of a new magistrate, the arguments were heard again, and the verdict was finally posted for February 2021.
However, the case dragged on after Saritha failed to appear before the court. Following her repeated absence, an arrest warrant was finally issued. Saritha was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram last week.
Meanwhile, the High Court has stopped the move to appoint MLA A N Shamseer’s wife Dr Sahala as assistant professor in HRD Centre of Kannur University. The Court has ordered that no permanent appointment of the post be made until May 7.
