T'PURAM/KOCHI: Opposition Congress and BJP have hit out at the government in light of the revelations made by Swapna Suresh, an accused in the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case. Opposition leader VD Satheeshan said that the new revelations by Suresh exposes the role of the chief minister's office. BJP, on the other hand, BJP demanded the dismissal of M Sivasankar, CM's former principal secretary, from service.
"The revelation of the woman is shocking and disappointing. Anti-social activities and corruption were rampant in the chief minister's office. It is now clear that the audio clip on behalf of the accused woman was based on a pre-arranged script to save the chief minister. It should be investigated," Satheeshan demanded.
"It is once again clear that corruption has taken place in the celebrated Life Mission project. The accused has stated that the money kept in the bank locker was a bribe received in connection with the Life Mission project. It is also clear that the CM's office was aware of the gold smuggling. It is unbelievable to say that the chief minister did not know what happened in his own office. It is learnt that all the allegations made by the opposition earlier were true. All these issues were raised by the opposition based on evidence when the no-confidence motion was tabled against the previous government," said Satheeshan.
"One fine morning, all central agencies stopped their investigation into the gold smuggling case. The probe by the central agencies itself was part of a nexus between CPM and BJP in the last elections. The lies behind this and the names of those who acted as intermediaries will come out. It is disgraceful that the officer who provided all the assistance to the smuggling gang is still in service. The government is protecting this official for fear of leaking secrets," Satheeshan alleged.
On the Lok Ayukta ordinance controversy, Satheeshan said that even the CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran has openly said that people believe what the opposition is saying about the Lok Ayukta ordinance. Kanam's revelation is an endorsement of the opposition's arguments. The government should withdraw the ordinance sent to the governor in the wake of opposition from CPI, the second biggest party in LDF, he said.
Expel Sivasankar from service: Surendran
BJP state president K Surendran said on Saturday that the statements of Swapna vetoing Sivasankar's claims in his book have proved all the allegations that BJP raised against the CM's office. "Sivasankar was trying to whitewash the government by feigning ignorance about gold smuggling and all other illegal activities centering around the CM's office. I had said that gold was smuggled through Thiruvananthapuram airport several times in the past by the same team. I had said that an important person in the CM's office had contacted customs for the clearance of the smuggled gold. When I said that Sivasankar's official phone should be examined for more details of gold smuggling, nobody took it seriously. Now, all these are validated by Swapna Suresh's revelations," he said.
Former DGP Jacob Thomas was suspended from service for writing a book, and now, an IAS officer has written a book against the central agencies, said Surendran. "He should be immediately expelled from service. He has never been absolved from charges in the gold smuggling case. He is the kingpin according to the investigation by all agencies, he said.
Surendran repeated his earlier allegation that government vehicles were used to ferry the smuggled gold and the smugglers enjoyed the protection and help of multiple government departments. "KT Jaleel now says that the truth has come out. All truths would come out one day. In what authority Jaleel held close connection with the consul general is to be explained. There is no doubt that Jaleel violated the oath of office," he said.
