This story is from August 19, 2020

Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case: Reveal Swapna Suresh’s role in Life Mission, says Ramesh Chennithala

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded the LDF government to disclose the names of all top bureaucrats who are alleged to be involved in the gold smuggling case, in the wake of the disclosure of the enforcement directorate
Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case: Reveal Swapna Suresh’s role in Life Mission, says Ramesh Chennithala
Swapna Suresh
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded the LDF government to disclose the names of all top bureaucrats who are alleged to be involved in the gold smuggling case, in the wake of the disclosure of the enforcement directorate (ED) before the Kochi court that top bureaucrats other than M Sivasankar are also involved in the case.
“The chief minister has been claiming that M Sivasankar was the only bureaucrat involved in the case and with his suspension the responsibility of government in the smuggling case has ended.
However, ED’s latest disclosure has put the LDF government under suspicion and hence Pinarayi Vijayan has to clarify on this,” said Chennithala.
“Reports have come out that anti-national activities, including gold smuggling, have been taking place in Kerala with the help of top bureaucrats since 2017. Why didn’t the CM know about it? Swapna Suresh had accompanied Sivasankar twice during his UAE trips. When the CM went to the UAE for getting aid for flood relief, Swapna was there. Reports have come out that Sarith and Sandeep Nair, the other accused in the case, were in Dubai when Swapna was there. There are reasons to infer that the smuggling cartel had used CM’s trips to further their interests,” he said.
“The CM needs to clarify as to how Swapna found a place in the official team? Did she meet the CM or hold discussions with him? If so, what was it about? Anyway, it is interesting to note that people who have no chance to become part of the delegation of the CM, got a chance to get involved,” said Chennithala.
The CM should reveal the role of Swapna, prime accused in gold smuggling, in the Life Mission project. he said. “According to media reports, Suresh got Rs.3 crore as commission. Though I have demanded a copy of the MoU signed by the Life Mission with Dubai-based NGO Emirates Red Crescent for funds for the housing project, the government has not yet responded even after eight days.”
Swapna’s confession that she got commission from Life Mission project reveals that the housing scheme implemented by the mission at Vadakancherry for the poor is a pretext for corruption. A UDF team led by convener Benny Behanan had visited the project site and found that the buildings do not conform to safety standards, he said.

The opposition leader said the chief minister has undertaken several foreign trips during his tenure and used to announce new projects with foreign aid on his return. “He should make public the details of fund received and projects completed.”
How could minister K T Jaleel bring 1,500kg parcel, reportedly containing holy Quran, from the UAE without permission from the protocol office of the state government. It needs to be investigated if any permission was forged, he added.
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