Kerala orders judicial probe against ED for ‘conspiracy’ against CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after the Kerala police filed a case against Enforcement Directorate officials for allegedly forcing Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the gold smuggling case, to give a statement against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the state government on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry against the central agency.

A spokesman for the government said justice VK Mohanan would head the judicial commission after getting the permission of the Election Commission (because the model code of conduct is in place). The panel will examine statements of police officials and audio messages of the accused where they claim they were forced to name the CM and others, he said. “The state cabinet has decided to recommend a judicial probe against the central agencies for derailing the probe in the gold and dollar smuggling matters Since there is a model code of conduct in force, the commission will be appointed only after seeking permission from the Election Commission,” a state official familiar with the case was quoted as saying by PTI.

An ED spokesperson did not respond to queries seeking comment. Last week, the crime branch of the Kerala police filed a case against ED’s deputy director in Kochi and other officials on charges of conspiracy. ED on Tuesday moved the high court against the FIR. The court, however, declined to stay the probe. The FIR said ED officials questioned Suresh and allegedly forced to her to give a statement implicating the CM.

The crime branch in November recorded statements of 18 people, including Suresh. Another accused, Sandeep Nair, wrote a letter to the magistrate saying he was pressurised to take the name of the CM and others. The ED has denied all allegations and said the police complaint was meant to delay probes into the gold smuggling and money laundering cases.

But the state has consistently stuck to the narrative that the Centre was using its agencies to target the state government. “The central agencies can’t intimidate an elected government like this. It is an election stunt,” said Vijayan.

The gold smuggling case surfaced last July after 30kg gold was seized from a consignment sent in diplomatic baggage to the UAE consulate in the state capital. Several people, including the CM’s principal secretary M Sivasankar, a senior IAS officer, were arrested for helping the accused; Suresh was labelled the mastermind.

Last month, the Customs department filed an affidavit in the high court quoting Suresh’s statement in which she alleged that the CM, his ministers, and assembly speaker, were aware of smuggling. Later, the state attorney general sent a show-cause notice to the Customs commissioner.