Not worried, let NIA book big sharks, says Pinarayi

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said he didn’t bother whether the NIA investigation into the gold smuggling case reaches his office. “If they come to my office, let them. If they find someone, let them. Let the agency conduct the probe properly. Why should someone oppose them?” Vijayan said on NIA probe’s neutrality.
Welcoming the probe and promising all help to the sleuths, Vijayan said, “As per the available info, an effective probe is going on.We need to trust the investigators first and observe their mode of inquiry. Do we need to divert probe now?” he asked.
“What did the NIA find? As per media reports, NIA has found that the money through smuggling has gone to terrorists. The probe has taken a different route. There are old cases too. Many persons need to be booked. Let all sharks come out. Let the investigators do their duty. Why should you people don their role?” the CM said.
He advised media to report the flaws in the probe, if they find any. “Now, with recent amendments in law, NIA has enough power to conduct an effective probe,” he said.
The chief minister also didn’t hide his displeasure towards M Sivasankar, his former principal secretary. “He was supposed to work and quietly go home. When there were aberrations, he was removed. For further action, we need further evidence,” he said.
To a query, the CM clarified that there was no intelligence report regarding the relationship between Sivasankar and the controversial woman Swapna Suresh. “She worked in a diplomatic mission. Several officials and leaders of all sides might have interacted with her,” he said.
On opposition’s allegations against speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, Vijayan said, “They now allege that the speaker had gone for an inauguration of an institution some months ago. If there was some controversy at the time of the event, he should have kept out.”