Gold Smuggling through Diplomatic Channel that was busted by the Customs officials in Thiruvananthapuram Airport is turning out to be a major blot on the Chief Minister’s Office and the incumbent Pinarayi Vijayan.
Sarith, the first accused in the case is reported to have told the sleuths of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) probing the case that M Sivsankar, the then principal secretary to Chief Minister Vijayan was fully aware of the gold smuggling making use of the diplomatic route.
Sources in NIA disclosed that Sarith conceded about his close ties with Sivsankar. Records of the telephonic conversations between Sivsankar and Sarith substantiates the contention of the latter. Sivsankar was suspended earlier this week based on an inquiry report submitted by the two-member panel headed by Chief Secretary Viswas Mehta for violation of Government of India Service Rules.
Based on the disclosures made by Sarith, the NIA is likely to summon Sivsankar (57), an officer who was conferred IAS, for further questioning. On Saturday, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the other two accused in the case were brought to Thiruvananthapuram by the NIA team as part of collecting evidence. The NIA sleuths took the two accused to the apartments where Swpna Suresh was staying in the capital city. They also visited the business premises of Sandeep at a city suburb.
The Customs officials were on their way to Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district to probe the link between the three accused and businessmen based in the town.
Meanwhile Jayaghosh, the gunman of the UAE attaché who fled the capital city and India to his country of origin, is believed to have told the Kerala Police that he tried to commit suicide because of threats and warnings issued by certain people. “He has been warned by them that they would finish him off if he reveals anything about the gold smuggling to the investigators,” said a policeman who is associated with rescuing Jayaghosh who was found with his wrist slit on Friday.
Janam TV, a news channel, which was pursuing the gold smuggling and the terrorist activities has been warned by the Islamic State unit in Kerala. In an Instagram message the extremist organization has warned that it would kill all employees of the channel and destroy the offices for “anti-Islamic news being aired by the channel”.
G K Suresh Babu, chief editor, told The Pioneer that State Police Chief had called him up and assured of all help. Security has been beefed up around the channel’s office and studios.