Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: Demand For CM’s Resignation
Kerala Gold smuggling case: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s difficulty difficult, demand for resignation raised.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Chief Secretary M Shivshankar after his anticipatory bail plea was dismissed from the Kerala High Court in the gold smuggling case.
The ED has made this arrest from Thiruvananthapuram Ayurvedic Hospital. Shivshankar was undergoing treatment here. Now the pressure on the Chief Minister has increased in this matter.
The opposition is demanding his resignation. While hearing the petition of IAS officer Shivshankar, the High Court found the arguments of the ED correct.
The ED had submitted the statements of Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the case and his accountant Venugopal, in the court.
The court categorically stated that it is clear from the statements of Swapna Suresh and his accountant that Shivshankar is also involved in the case.
The court said that on the instruction of Shivshankar, Swapna Suresh and Venugopal allotted the locker for depositing money in the State Bank at Thiruvananthapuram.
Both of them had the right to open the locker. However, Shivshankar kept himself away from depositing money in the locker.
But there are some indications from the conversation that Shivshankar was looking at the financial management of Swapna Suresh.
The court rejected Shivshankar’s plea in which he said that he was only looking after the work of the government. During this time he had the right to talk to the secretary of the UAE Consulate, Swapna Suresh.
The High Court, citing a decision of the Supreme Court, said that the investigating agency has the right to interrogate the petitioner.
This right cannot be terminated by giving him anticipatory bail.
This petition has been filed ahead of time. At the same time, the opposition has become more aggressive. Following the arrest.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala has demanded his resignation from the Chief Minister. He said that the Chief Minister should resign immediately without taking the favor of Shivshankar.
BJP state president Surendran said that more information in the gold smuggling case will be revealed after questioning Shivshankar.
Meanwhile, State Law Minister AK Balan said that the government wants all the accused in the gold smuggling case arrested. The investigation agencies are being fully assisted in this matter.
This is the case, on July five, at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, customs officials caught diplomatic baggage from the UAE on secret information.
When it was opened in the presence of UAE consulate officials after obtaining permission from the Ministry of External Affairs, 30 kilograms of gold along with household goods were found.
After the case came to light, along with the main accused Swapna Suresh, many others have been arrested.
The terrorist connection has also come to light in this case. It is being investigated by several investigating agencies including the ED.
