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Gold case accused links Kerala CM, Speaker, ministers in forex smuggling
March 05, 2021
Claims involvement of Speaker and three Cabinet Ministers
Swapna Suresh, a prime accused in the diplomatic gold smuggling case, has claimed that foreign currency was smuggled at the instance of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, according to a statement filed by the Customs before the Kerala High Court.
The Customs has registered a case in connection with the alleged smuggling of US dollars worth nearly ₹1.30 crore by a former finance head of the UAE Consulate, Thiruvananthapuram, to the UAE. Besides Swapna, PS Sarith and M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to Chief Minister are also accused in the case.
HC moved to expunge remarks of magistrate court
The State government on Wednesday rubbished the allegation of Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case, that she was facing threat to life in prison.
When a petition filed by the government seeking to expunge certain observations made by the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) came up before Justice V.G. Arun, senior public prosecutor Suman Chakravarthy submitted there had not been even a single incident or allegation that she was threatened or tortured in any of the prisons where she was housed.
The magistrate court made the observation while ordering to provide effective and meaningful protection to the life and body of Swapna Suresh inside the prison when she was produced on December 8. The magistrate court order came on a petition filed by Swapna Suresh and the Customs Department seeking protection for her inside the jail.