The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly found scant evidence to charge Congress leader Hibi Eden, MP, with rape in the sex-for-political patronage complaint filed by a one-time woman speculator facing trial in the solar investment fraud case that rocked the Oommen Chandy government in 2014.
By one account, the CBI reported its findings to the special court here last week. The report was yet to emerge in the public domain. If correct, the development could pave the way for a galaxy of Congress leaders, including Mr. Chandy, to evade legal jeopardy.
The CBI had examined the MLA quarters and the Cliff House as part of its investigation. (Mr. Eden was a Congress legislator at the time of the occurrence of the alleged offence.) The victim had claimed that an array of Congress leaders had extorted sexual favours from her in reciprocation for supporting her putative solar farm venture.
