Gold case accused Swapna was 'influential' in Vijayan's office: NIA


Kochi, Aug 6 (IANS): The NIA probing the controversial gold smuggling case has informed a court here on Thursday that the prime accused in the case, Swapna Suresh was 'influential' in the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan though the claim has been denied by Swapna's counsel.

The NIA team made these disclosures in the court, when the bail application of Swapna came up for hearing.

The court has now posted the matter for August 10.

Soon after Swapna's arrest, it had surfaced that she and Vijayan's principal secretary and state IT secretary M.Sivasankar, who have since been suspended, were "very thick".

Her counsel Geo Paul told the media that there was no reference made to Vijayan or his office in the court on Thursday.

"Her statement says she knew Vijayan (who wouldn't know him)," Paul said, adding that it was pointed out that Sivasankar was her mentor.

He argued that the UAPA sections invoked by the NIA will not stand.

Incidentally it was Vijayan who had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an NIA probe into this case, a point that the NIA has mentioned in court. He has also given a free hand to the NIA to probe any angle in the case.

The NIA made these disclosures in the court, while Swapna's bail application was being heard.

The gold smuggling case that has large scale ramifications across sectors, first surfaced when P.S.Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 while he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram.

It turned murkier when the name of Swapna, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here and employed with the IT Department, surfaced and it turned full circle when her links with Sivasankar became public.

The NIA also informed the court that even while she and Sivasankar were close, he refused to call the Customs which had confiscated the gold baggage, despite her repeated requests.

The NIA also pointed out that Swapna had huge influence in the UAE Consulate here, as she was being paid a retainer fee, even after she left the job and joined the state-run newly formed Space Park, set up to scout for new companies working in the fields of aerospace, at a huge monthly salary.

Soon after her arrest by the NIA, it emerged that Swapna got this job because of Sivasankar's influence. This even as Swapan's brother claimed that he was not sure whether she has even passed Class 10.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Naresh, Kerala

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Swapna’s accomplice Sandeep Nair was the driver of BJP councillor and had good relationship with the top brass of Kerala BJP.... In fact, there was a call to Customs official to release the consignment stating that it is from the CM’s office.... later it was found that the person called was a BMS leader.... This is a sheer attempt of the BJP to tarnish the image of the CM just because the Assembly elections are due and there is hardly any anti incumbency wave, unlike previous times.... Congress sensing that they will not be back to power is tacitly supporting the move..... For BJP, CPM is a bigger enemy than Congress

    In fact, people should understand that it was the CM who asked the Centre to conduct any type of investigation and probe any angle in the case.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    It is well known that both Modi and Amit Shah have a great animosity towards Kerala and wasted no time in ordering a NIA probe which based on all media reports appears far fetched being Basically a customs related case.

    The whole country is aware of how these central agencies are being used to selectively target political leaders and parties from the opposition parties and may be in this case have been assigned the task of targetting the CM of Kerala and Such speculation of Swapna being influential in the CM's office by the NIA gives rise to the suspicion that the NIA has a agenda to fulfill in this investigation.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, Mangaluru...

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Even Jossey would have known by now that the CM was lining errr toeing Swapnas line.... Not in his dream but for real.... Check this CMs record since 1971 please.... you will come to know more..

    DisAgree [6] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Hope nothing has happened in Vijayan's office like in case of Bill Clinton's office by Monica Lewinsky!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru
    India is a Land of "Jai Shri Ram" ...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    But then Kerala is like a separate country! They claim they're not in the 130 Crore Indians as per twitter breaking and social media

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nicholas, Canada

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru
    Surely not like what happened in Modi residence before 2014 & had to use Gujarath cops to snoop on the girl fearing the truth will come out & affect his PM election

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Naresh, Kerala

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Vijayan is not like Yeddy my dear

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Swapna Suresh was a good friend of Nirav Modi ...

    DisAgree [14] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    Proof please

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, Mangaluru...

    Thu, Aug 06 2020

    You will have to sit with him 8. P. M. He will give.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Gold case accused Swapna was 'influential' in Vijayan's office: NIA



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