Ernakulam: Saritha S Nair, an accused in Kerala’s solar panel scam, will contest as an independent candidate against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the Amethi Lok Sabha election. She has chosen green chilly as her poll symbol. She had submitted her nomination with the address of her residence in Malayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram.

The nomination papers filed by Saritha to contest from Ernakulam and Wayanad were rejected by the Election Commission (EC) on April 6.

Saritha was punished to six years in jail in two cases related to the solar panel scam for three years each. According to rules, one cannot participate in an election without completing their punishment.

Earlier, Saritha had made serious allegations of corruption and sexual exploitation against a number of Congress leaders. She told the media that she had sent many letters to Rahul in which she had complained against 12 Congress workers.

“Rahul Gandhi refused to take action,” she said, and questioned, "How can a person, who is trying to become the Prime Minister of India, behave this way to a woman?"

Saritha also added that she is not contesting the election to become an MP but is contesting to shame those who abused and levelled criminal charges against her.

Saritha and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan led the multi-crore solar energy investment fraud, which rocked the then-Oommen Chandy government in 2013. Later, the Pinarayi Vijayan government placed the Justice G Sivarajan (Retd) judicial probe report, which indicts Chandy and his office, in the Assembly.