Swapna Suresh, the accused of the gold smuggling case on Tuesday alleges the involvement of Chief Minister(CM) Pinarayi Vijayan, his family, two top aides and one Cabinet minister in connection with the case. Pinarayi Vijayan denied the allegations by stating it as baseless and politically motivated.
Swapna had stated under Section 164 of the CrPC before a local magistrate in Kochi on Monday by naming the Chief Minister, his wife Kamala Vijayan, daughter Veena Vijayan, former State Chief Secretary Nalini Netto, Additional Private Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister C.M. Raveendran and former Kerala Education Minister and current legislator K.T. Jaleel.
Vijayan responded that he is confident that people will recognise and reject the baseless propaganda aimed at discrediting the Left Democratic Front [LDF] government which is working for the overall development and social welfare of Kerala.
Swapna said that she have been asked by the court to show restraint. Since she respects the court she will reveal more in the upcoming days only. “It all began in 2016 when Vijayan first went to the UAE. Then M. Sivasankar (former Kerala Principal Secretary to Vijayan and top IAS official) had asked me to make all arrangements for his visit to the UAE and I did it through our UAE Consulate in Kerala,” she added.
She further said that on many occasions, a biriyani vessel was transported from the house of the UAE Consulate General in India to the residence of the Kerala Chief Minister.
Senior Congress leader and former Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala also slammed the role of Vijayan in the gold smuggling case. Speaking to the media, Chennithala said that Vijayan knew everything and he is the prime accused in this case. Whatever he does to hide, the truth will emerge.
