Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, who is in the eye of a storm over reports about gold smuggling through diplomatic channel via Thiruvananthapuram Airport with the connivance of the Chief Minister’s Office, put the blame on the Central Government for its failure to check such activities.
“Airports in the country are all managed by the Central Government. The Customs officials deployed in these airports are Central Government officials and if smuggling of gold is happening in airports, it shows the incapability of the Centre. The Kerala Government has no role in it and we are always ready to help the investigating agencies with any help,” said the Chief Minister when he was asked the alleged role of his trusted official in the incident of gold smuggling through diplomatic channel.
Vijayan pointed out that the parcel which arrived at the airport was addressed to the UAE Consulate and not to the Kerala Government. “The name of a lady (Swapna Suresh) has been roped in by some people to discredit the Chief Minister’s Office. She has no role in the CMO and she is not a staff of the CMO,” said the Chief Minister who decried the attempts by the Opposition to defame him by spreading fake news.
The Chief Minister said that Swapna Suresh was hired by a placement agency to work for the IT Department based on her previous experience in the UAE Consulate and Air India SATS (Singapore Airport Terminal Services) . “You have to find out who helped her to get a job in Air India SATS , a Central Government owned enterprise. We in Kerala Government do not have anything to do with her,” said the Chief Minister.
He reiterated that Swapna Suresh was working on contract basis for the IT Department of Kerala and she has no direct dealings with the Government. Vijayan blamed a section of the media was trying to distort his image in the backdrop of the upcoming election to the legislative assembly. Kerala will go to the polls in April-May 2021 to elect a new legislative assembly.
On Sunday, the Customs officials had seized a consignment of 30 kg gold (valued at Rs 15 crore in Indian market) addressed to the UAE Consulate in the capital city which was booked as a diplomatic baggage. Sarith, a former UAE Consulate staff has been arrested in connection with the incident while Swapna Suresh, the kingpin is missing since then.
M Sivasankar, principal secretary in the CMO who was also the IT Secretary is reported to have close liaison with the controversial woman. Sivsankar has been shunted out of the CMO and removed from the post of IT Secretary on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Ramesh Chennaithala, leader of opposition has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking CBI probe into the whole affair. The name of Swapna Suresh has been linked to some of the top CPI(M) leaders in the State.