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Swapna Suresh, Main Accused In Kerala Gold Smuggling Case, Moves High Court For Anticipatory Bail
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with accused Swapna Suresh (Twitter)
Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, has moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
Media reports said that Swapna had filed an application for bail online last night (8 July).
Denying she has any links to gold smuggling, Swapna, who has been ousted as the liaison officer of Kerala IT Department’s Space Park this week, claimed she was involved only in carrying out work allocated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consulate.
Swapna said she was ordered to coordinate movement of logistics and she had only asked the Customs Department to clear a consignment as per procedure.
Swapna, currently on the run, is the main accused in the case, which came to light after Customs officials seized 30 kg of gold valued at Rs 13.5 crore being smuggled into the country through diplomatic baggage. The seizure was made following a tip-off.
The gold smuggling case is currently being hotly debated with calls going from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office to not include Swapna in the case.
Following the revelation of the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) interest in the case, principal secretary M Sivasankar was removed from the CMO.
Sivasankar, who recruited Swapna as liaison officer, has since gone on a year’s leave.
The gold smuggling case has become a serious issue with Central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and the National Investigation Agency scrutinising the case closely as it could have wider ramifications that could affect the country.
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