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Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Friday (Aug 18) arrested two more Chinese nationals for alleged involvement in the 60 KG gold smuggling case. Identities of the arrested Chinese are yet to be disclosed.
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The BSF as apprehended a smuggler red handed with 6 gold biscuits in Murshidabad district, along Bangladesh border. The total weight of the seized gold biscuits is 699.47 gm and the Indian market value is approximately Rs. 36.3 Lakh.
According to a report, Suresh alleged that she was asked by the UAE Consulate to talk to the Chief Minister to facilitate the travel of a UAE national, who was allegedly caught with a Thuraya satellite phone, which is banned in India.
Speaking to the media persons, Swapna claimed that neither the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) nor the UAE Consulate knew about the change in the itinerary of the visiting dignitary from Kozhikode to the state capital.
In the first incident, the protestors showed a black flag to the CM when he was going to attend the first program at Infopark, while the second and third ones took place while he was returning from the programmes.
“It’s with evidence and I wasn’t working as the PA of Consul General in that period. If you look into the dates, it is actually i was working for the Spacepark project under the Govt of Kerala where i was placed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sivasankar and all these people,” she added.
These documents will be filed in court today (Thursday) along with the affidavit, she said while talking to the media. Swapna said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is afraid of the case. The system is being manipulated, now she has faith in the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
While talking to media persons Suresh said, "Kerala CM, who is supposed to protect the public has put me to starvation now. He's harassing me because I am trying to bring the truth out. He can't just do this for his daughter. He has to consider all of us daughters."
It should be noted that Swapna had alleged that Vijayan and his wife and their daughter veena had smuggled currency to UAE. She said it was she who facilitated numerous meetings with the UAE consul General at the CM's residence which was against all protocol as permission was taken from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Vijayan gave the written reply in the state Assembly on Monday to a question raised by opposition Congress MLA Anwar Sadath. To another question about whether the allegations were factual, he replied that there was no relevance for such a question.
Thiruvananthapuram cantonment police have registered a case against Swapna on Jaleel’s complaint on June 8 this year seeking a probe into the charges made by Swapna Suresh against him in the Gold Smuggling Case and alleged that she conspired and made defaming statements against him.
In her letter to PM Modi, Swapna Suresh said that after she submitted her statement before the Magistrate court under section 164 of CrPC, the Kerala government is harassing her and her relatives
He further questioned that CM should explain what was his role in the gold smuggling case and why is he attempting to shall the work of the investigating agencies.
Another reason cited by the UDF for avoiding the Loka Kerala Sabha was the lack of response from the government to the queries and suggestions of the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan regarding the benefits, if any, to the expatriates from the last two meetings of the sabha held in 2018 and 2020.
In the affidavit, which she filed in the Ernakulam District Sessions Court, she alleged that the Sharjah ruler held a discussion with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family. She also revealed that CM’s daughter Veena Vijayan has expressed interest in starting an IT venture in Sharjah.
Suresh, a former employee of the UAE consulate, was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with another accused Sandeep Nair from Bengaluru on July 11, 2020.
This incident comes after Youth Congress workers waved black flags at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inside an indigo aircraft when he was returning to the capital from Kannur. After the incident, the Valiyathura police department registered the case under the IPC section 307 following the complaint of the CM bodyguard. They have also been charged with an attempt to murder.
The Congress Youth workers staged a march to a guest house in Kannur where the CM is staying and demanded his resignation over the alleged gold smuggling case.Notably, the Kerela CM reached Kannur on Sunday evening and on the request of the police, stayed at a guest house instead of his own residence.
“Posting orders of M R Ajith Kumar IPS, Additional Director General of Police, will be issued separately,” the order said.
Justice Viju Abraham dismissed the plea after recording the Public Prosecutor's submission that the second petitioner (Sarith) was not even implicated in the crime and that an anticipatory bail plea was therefore not maintainable.
She further revealed that vessels, containing heavy metals, were taken to the Cliff House, the CM's official residence, from the consul general's residence in Thiruvananthapuram, based on the instructions of Sivasankar. Suresh said more details about the entire case cannot be revealed as per the court’s direction.
Blow to the LDF govt! Kerala HC quashes FIRs registered against ED in gold smuggling case
Following Maharashtra, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government withdraw the general consent accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases without prior permission.
