JOIN USSwapna Suresh made allegations against Kerala CM, Speaker in dollar smuggling case: Customs to HC
Causing major embarrassment to the Left-front government in Kerala, especially when the Assembly elections are approaching, the Customs Department on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that the key accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh had made 'shocking revelations' linking Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and three ministers with illegal activities, including foreign currency smuggling.
In an affidavit submitted before the HC in the gold smuggling case, Customs made these revelations and offered to give the Court a confidential statement of Swapna in a sealed envelope.
According to the affidavit, "Swapna stated with clarity on the smuggling of foreign currency at the instance of the Chief Minister and the Speaker with the help of UAE former consulate general in Thiruvananthapuram. She has also clearly stated about the improper and illegal activities of three ministers and the Speaker. She further stated the involvement and kickbacks received by high-profile persons from various deals. She was witness to all these transactions and was a witness to the same as she is well versed in Arabic language and hence was forced to act as the translator between the above said persons and persons from the Middle East."
While the government was yet to react to the fresh developments, Opposition Congress-led UDF alleged that it was due to CPM-BJP nexus that the central agencies did not initiate any legal action against Vijayan or his cabinet colleagues despite having incriminating statements. He also alleged that the delay in the proceedings of the SNC Lavalin corruption case againt Vijayan was also owing to this nexus. Prime Minister Narendran Modi and Vijayan would not criticise each other, he said.
The fresh developments also came close on the heels of Kerala government openly alleging that central agencies were acting against the Kerala government with political motives. The state government was also exploring scope of legal action, including police case, against ED officials on the basis of a complaint of an official of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board that ED officials harassed mentally after summoning to collect statements pertaining to the masala bonds issued by KIIFB.
Meanwhile, CPM politburo demanded the centre and the ED to rescind the case for FEMA violation registered against KIIFB as the ED's action against KIIFB was a blatant misuse of the agency as a political tool by the BJP government at the centre. The ED action coming after the announcement of elections is all the more reprehensible as it is a blatant effort to try to discredit the LDF government and the extensive developmental work undertaken under the auspices of the KIIFB. It is a serious violation of the federal principle, a statement from the politburo said.