Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: Pinarayi Vijayan Says No Links Between CMO and Prime Accused Woman, Blames Centre
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday denied any links between his office and Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in a gold smuggling case.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 7: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday denied any links between his office and Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in a gold smuggling case. Addressing the media, Pinarayi Vijayan said the woman was hired on a contract basis through an agency for a project in the state's IT department. Vijayan apart from holding the Home portfolio also heads the IT department. What is Kerala's Gold Smuggling Case And Why is CM Pinarayi Vijayan Under Attack?
The Chief Minister said: "The woman in question in Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case has no connection with CMO or IT Dept. This woman was working as a Marketing Manager for a project under the IT department as a contract employee. She was taken through a placement agency." Asserting that the Kerala government had no role in the gold smuggling, Vijayan said the central government should be held responsible as it oversees airports. Kerala Gold Smuggling Case: UAE Embassy Extends Full Cooperation With Indian Customs Authorities, Urges Stringent Legal Action Against Culprits.
"How can the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case anyway be related to state government? The parcel didn't come to any of the state government agency; it came for UAE Consulate. If there is any failure, how can state government be responsible? The state government has no role," Vijayan said. "All airports are working under central government and all facilities are provided by the Centre. State governments cannot do anything about it. It is the total responsibility of the Centre," he added.
Vijayan has been facing heat since it emerged that Swapna Suresh had a close relationship with senior IAS officer M Sivasankar, who was holding the post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister until he was removed on Tuesday. It was also reported that Swapna got a plush job in the state's IT department where Sivasankar was serving as Secretary until today.
Opposition leader and senior Congressman Ramesh Chennithala demanded a CBI investigation into the gold smuggling case. BJP state President K. Surendran also called for the Chief Minister to reveal the relationship between his principal secretary and the woman involved in the gold smuggling case.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2020 07:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).