In 2013, Team Solar Energy Company floated by Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S Nair, used women to lobby with influential people in the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in the state of Kerala, India, including then chief minister Oommen Chandy. The scam involved duping of millions of rupees from people in powerful positions, by offering to make them business partners, or by offering to install solar power units for them. For this advance payments were collected but the company failed to deliver the goods. The company awarded a ‘Virgin Earth Golden Feather Environment Award’ to several prominent people of Kerala to gain media coverage and trustworthiness.
The scam came to light when one of the customers, Sreedharan Nair, who had paid for the installation of solar panels, filed a case against the company on realising he was duped. Nair, a quarry owner, claimed he had met the chief minister, at his office, along with Saritha, during which the chief minister encouraged investments in renewable energy and approved of the company’s credibility.
The incident drew much attention because most of those who lost big money were prominent people. It is alleged that three officials from the office of the chief minister had close links with Saritha. The office was used to lure gullible people by women, including Malayalam movie actress Shalu Menon, who was used as brand ambassador of the company and enticed customers into parting with their money.
