Swapna Suresh, the primary accused in the high-profile gold smuggling case of 2020, has made startling allegations against M R Ajit Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Law & Order. On September 7, Swapna claimed that Ajit Kumar facilitated her escape from Kerala to Bengaluru during the stringent COVID-19 lockdown while she was evading arrest. Swapna, who was involved in smuggling gold to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram via diplomatic baggage, has accused the senior police official of aiding her flight during a period of heightened security and travel restrictions.
Swapna and another accused, Sarit, revealed to the media that Ajit Kumar managed her entire travel itinerary to Bengaluru. Ajit Kumar kept M. Sivasankar IAS, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, informed about every detail. Sivasankar, who was known as the Chief Minister’s right-hand man, once told media representatives in a private conversation that the Chief Minister was unaware of anything and would sign any document that Sivasankar presented to him. Subsequently, Sivasankar was imprisoned for several months in connection with gold smuggling. The ADGP was overseeing the navigation instructions given to Sivasankar.
Swapna mentioned that she did not know Ajit Kumar at the time but suspects he may have assisted her in reaching Bengaluru without any police checks at the border. She believes that her journey to Bengaluru was intentional, orchestrated by Sivasankar, who pressured her to leave Kerala. After she left Kerala, Sandeep Nair took charge of her travel. Nair would step out of the vehicle whenever he used his mobile phone, and his calls were with Sivasankar. ADGP Ajit Kumar controlled the navigation instructions given by Sivasankar. The plan, as Swapna believes, was to transport her from Bengaluru to Nagaland with the intention of eliminating her there.
Sajitkumar, another accused in the gold smuggling case and the former PRO at the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, informed the media that Sivasankar assured him Ajit Kumar would handle any issues that might arise. Initially, they went to a resort in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, as directed by Sivasankar. Following this, Sivasankar instructed them to proceed to Bengaluru. Sarit mentioned that Ajitkumar provided a detailed explanation of the route to Bengaluru.
Ajitkumar directed Swapna Suresh, via Shaj Kiran, not to reveal any information about Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This was disclosed by Ajith Krishna, the General Secretary of the High Range Rural Development Society (HRDS), one of the largest NGOs in the country.
The NIA has arrested Swapna and Sarit in Bengaluru. ADGP Ajitkumar has reportedly taken leave, allegedly on the instructions of the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Ajitkumar’s departure could expose significant new information, particularly in light of the revelations and allegations made by CPM leader P.V. Anvar MLA. The allegations are directed at close associates of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, but the Chief Minister has remained notably silent. There are claims that this silence is a strategy to avoid the controversy. With Anvar’s revelations bringing renewed attention to the case, the gold smuggling scandal has once again come into the spotlight.
