Kerala CM involved in gold smuggling case, main accused Swapna Suresh tells HC

NEW DELHI: Kerala gold smuggling case’s prime accused Swapna Suresh said in a statement about foreign currency smuggling at the behest of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, this was said by Sumit Kumar, who is investigating the gold smuggling case.

 

Kumar told the High Court in her statement, Suresh who has been arrested in the case involving top state officials, has made shocking disclosures about the Chief Minister's close contacts with the previous consul general of UAE and the illegal monetary transactions carried out.

 

Kumar further said that the allegations were in a confidential statement given by her before the magistrate in Ernakulam.

 

Suresh has also alleged Kerala assembly speaker and three members of the vijayan cabinet of illegal monetary transactions.

 

The damning reports have come just days before Kerala's assembly elections next month, and the CM has been accused of corruption as a result of the smuggling racket. The investigation is being carried out by five central agencies, with Vijayan accusing it of being politically motivated.

 

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According to the customs commissioner's statement to the HC Suresh had disclosed her close connection to the CM and his former principal secretary M Sivasankar, who is currently out on bail.

 

The case came to light after customs officials discovered 30 kg of gold hidden in imported plumbing material in July of last year. The air cargo consignment was addressed to the United Arab Emirates Consular General in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

 

The gold was estimated to be worth Rs 15 crore.

 

Suresh had claimed threats to her and her family's lives in a statement in December, stating that some people had approached her and warned her not to reveal the names of those in positions of high authority to investigating agencies.

 

Since she had revealed highly sensitive information about high-profile politicians and others holding high positions in the state government, the customs chief told the court that her fears about her safety in prison and the danger to her life were perfectly justified.