Swapna Suresh, a major accused in the infamous ‘Thiruvananthapuram Gold Smuggle Case’ had very good rapport and close acquaintance with Kerala CM and veteran CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s office, says National Investigation Agency (NIA).
NIA stated this as part of its counter affidavit it filed before the Special NIA Court today (August 6, 2020), in connection with Swapna Suresh’s application for bail. NIA’s counsel was quoting Swapna’s statement recorded during the interrogation. She had excellent association with CM’s suspended Principal Secretary-cum-IT Secretary M. Sivashankar and he offered her the job in Space Park under the CMO. She maintained close connection with the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram even after she was terminated from its service. She continued to do a lot of jobs for the Consulate and accept remuneration for it.
Counsel added that those who were involved in smuggling used to get Rs 50,000 each after every operation.Simultaneously the counsel for the Customs Department submitted before the court that Swapna is extremely influential in the corridors of power and enjoyed considerable clout in Kerala Police. She dared to threaten several people on the basis of this influence. It is supported by credible records.It should be recalled that the above idea had been flaunted by her in the voice clipping she had circulated in the media and was telecast by Malayalam TV channels.
In that clipping she had said that the gold smuggling case would not affect the CM or his ruling front. She added that it is politically motivated in view of the forthcoming elections.She has also said that M. Sivashankar got her the job in Space Park under CMO. Sivashankar told her that CM knew her very well. She confirms that she has association with the CM. And, the CMO helped her.
Now, things are getting clearer. BJP and UDF have been alleging that Swapna had enjoyed the CM’s patronage. BJP president K. Surendran demanded the immediate resignation of the CM in the wake of the latest revelation.Now, reports come in that Ramees, another major accused in the case, had links with African drug traffickers. There are reports that he had links with anti-national fundamentalist groups. In other words, monies were made not only through gold smuggling but also through drug trafficking for anti-national operations.
