Vijayan knew of currency smuggling case: HC told

The Customs, probing the case, claimed in the Kerala High Court on Friday that Kerala gold smuggling prime accused Swapna Suresh has made ‘shocking revelations’ against state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and some ministers that foreign currency was smuggled at their instance.

In an affidavit filed in the court weeks before the assembly elections, the Customs said Suresh made the ‘revelations’ in statements given to the agency under section 108 and 164 of the CrPC.

Attacking the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, which submitted an affidavit in the Kerala high court containing a statement of Suresh revealing the chief minister’s role in dollar smuggling, the ruling CPI(M) alleged that the probe agencies have stooped so low that they have become an election tool in the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The party-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) said it would launch a protest against the “political games” played against the chief minister, ministers and the Left government using the central probe agencies. The CPI(M) alleged that the affidavit submitted by the Customs in the high court shows that the BJP is disturbed after knowing that the Left will retain power in the state after the polls. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left government have an image of good governance in the Kerala society.

The probe agencies have stooped so low that they have become an election tool in the hands of BJP. Don’t think that people are fools CPI (M) statement

This has given jitters to those who rule the centre and they will go to any extent to fight against the Left. The probe agencies have stooped so low that they have become an election tool in the hands of BJP. Don’t think that people are fools,” the CPI(M) said. It said the intention of the central government has become crystal clear with the Customs submitting a ‘secret statement’, given by one of the accused months ago, just after the election was declared.

Hitting out at Vijayan, Leader of opposition in the state Assembly, Congress’ Ramesh Chennithala, said he does not have the right to remain in the chief minister’s post in view of the revelations. —