The National Investigation Agency has not found any evidence to suggest that the gold smuggling was done by Swapna Suresh at the behest of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, as has been claimed by the customs. NIA has been examining the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Sources in NIA have stated that, at least in their investigations, no such evidence has come which can suggest the connection of Kerala CM with the smuggling. The sources also added that they cannot comment on the investigations or probes done by any other agency.
NIA in its chargesheet filed in January 2021 had not charged M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the CM, whose name had popped up in connection to Swapna Suresh, after which he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. In September, 2020, NIA had questioned Sivasankar. Subsequently, after a month, ED arrested him for alleged money laundering & the agency had also launched investigations into various flagship government schemes approved by the Kerala government.
NIA, in the chargesheet filed against Swapna & 19 others stated, “The NIA investigation hitherto has revealed that the accused had knowingly conspired since June, 2019, raised funds and smuggled from UAE, between November, 2019 and June, 2020, around 167 Kgs of gold, through the import cargo addressed to diplomats at the Consulate General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram. Significantly, the main accused in this case had also planned to smuggle more gold from countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.”
This development comes in parallel to the statements given by the Customs officials to the Kerala High Court. The customs department today told the Kerala High Court that Swapna Suresh, an accused in a gold smuggling case, has made “shocking revelations” against the Chief Minister, the Speaker and some ministers in her statement before a magistrate.
“She has made shocking revelations about the Chief Minister’s close connections with the previous Consul General of the UAE and the illegal monetary transactions carried out,” Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said in a statement.
“She has also stated with clarity about smuggling of foreign currency at the instance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Hon’ble Speaker with the help of the Consulate. She has also clearly stated about the improper and illegal activities of 3 Hon’ble Ministers of the State Cabinet and the Hon’ble Speaker,” the top customs official said in the statement.
The CPI (M) has hit out at the centre over the statement by the customs.
“The customs affidavit in court is a clear indication that the BJP has lost its mind after realising that the LDF is going to get a second term,” the party said in a statement.
