The latest developments in the infamous gold smuggling case are likely to create ripples across the state of Kerala. The Customs Department has cited two key accused in the case alleging that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a packet containing a bundle of currency, while he was in the UAE, through the UAE Consular officer in Thiruvananthapuram. The Customs claimed that the statement was made in a deposition made back in October by PS Sarith, the Consulate’s former staffer.
The accused in the Gold smuggling case includes the former staff of the Consulate: Sarith PS and Swapna Suresh, who have been cited in the 77 page Show Cause Notice issued on July 29. Swapna had reportedly stated that Sivasankar had called her and told her that an important packet had to be sent to the UAE, to the Chief Minister.
The main accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh had sought the contact number of M Sivasankar, the then principal secretary to the CM, to handle the travel plans of Pinarayi Vijayan and others. Swapna was then executive secretary at the consulate and Jamal Al-Zaabi was the Consul General. Swapna further added that Sarith, who brought the package to the Consul General, told her that the packet contained currency after screening it through the X-Ray machine.
“This packet was rectangular and was covered in a thick brown paper. On reaching the Consulate, out of curiosity, Sarith put the packet in the X-ray machine available in the Consulate and found that the packet contained a bundle of currency and some other items. He had confidentially conveyed this to Swapna.” said the report that quoted Sarith.
According to The investigating officer, Swapna Suresh had confessed that she had witnessed all these transactions because she was forced to act as a translator in all of the crucial interactions between the Kerala ministers and UAE officials.
Read more: Voice leaks of smugglers suggests that CPM and Vijayan could have links with the gold smuggling scam
The Kerala gold smuggling case involves smuggling of over 167 kgs of gold through the import cargo, addressed to the diplomats at the Consulate General of UAE, in Thiruvananthapuram, between November 2019 and June 2020. Subsequently, the Customs arrested around 15 people, including Swapna Suresh. The National Investigation Agency, the Enforcement Directorate and the Customs are conducting separate probes into the racket. The recent sensational twist adds CM Vijayan involvement in the same.
For the last few weeks, Kerala has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. From the rise of Coronavirus and Zikavirus cases to the exit of Kitex Group to general lawlessness, the state has always been in a chaotic environment. The Kerala gold smuggling case adds to the list, as this occurred under the nose of the Communist government, and many senior officials from CM’s office were involved in it.
TFI had reported that the scam was to finance terror operations in the country. As various reports surfaced regarding the growing number of radicalised youth joining terrorist organisations from Kerala, funding through illegal financial channels seemed evident.
Whole India knows this fact yet no one (central govt, supreme court, President, media, journalists, arm chair fake activists etc,.) doesn’t utter a word and continues to look other way. Why is every one afraid of communist party? When is public hold them accountable for the crimes?