Kerala gold smuggling: ED rejects Swapna Suresh's claims; says it's digging deep

Enforcement Directorate rejected claims of coercion me in an audio clip purportedly by Kerala gold smuggling case "prime accused" Swapna Suresh and official sources said on Friday that ncy was digging deeper into money laundering trail that involves a number of people.

central probe ncy has also written to Kerala Prisons Department seeking a probe into how clip was recorded and circulated in violation of guidelines meant for accused in jail.

sources said if clip is true, it is a "serious breach" of legal procedures and aims at jeopardising probe in a high-profile criminal case which has international ramifications.

An online news portal is stated to have released a voice clip that is purportedly of Suresh, at present in judicial custody, who alleged ED was putting pressure on her to give a statement against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

development has created a political stir in state. official sources said Suresh is a "prime accused" in case and allegations me in clip of coercion by ED to take certain names are "false and aimed to stall probe in case".

y ded that ED has t offered her to be me an approver in case. sources said ncy is "digging deep" into this money laundering case linked to gold smuggling and is looking to unravel entire money trail that reached various people.  Suresh has been questioned in this case and her statement recorded under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that has been duly signed by her. entire proceeding has been done as per law, y said.

A statement me by a person under section 50 of PMLA is missible in a court of law. ncy filed its first chargesheet or prosecution complaint in this case sometime back and has named Suresh and ors in it.

More such supplementary chargesheets are expected to be filed by ED, including possible attachment of assets of accused under anti-money laundering law, y said.

state prisons department h alrey ordered a probe into surfacing of voice clip.  In clip, Suresh purportedly said investigative ncies tried to force her to take name of Vijayan, which she refused to do.

She was also asked to sign documents regarding her statement without being permitted to re m, it was alleged in clip.

South Zone Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajaykumar, entrusted with probe into audio clip incident, h visited Attakulangra women prison in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and told reporters that Suresh "h mitted that voice in clip was hers."  "But, recording was t me in jail," DIG h said.

While ruling CPI(M) has said that alleged use of probe ncies "to target chief minister" and government was a very serious matter, Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan and state Congress slammed Left front government, alleging it was a "political plot" to divert attention from corruption charges ahe of local body elections next month.

ED, Customs Department and National Investigation ncy (NIA) are conducting separate probes into alleged gold smuggling racket that was busted with seizure of Rs 15 crore worth of precious metal from 'diplomatic bagg' of UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5.

Suresh, a former employee of consulate, Vijayan's former principal secretary M Sivasankar and several ors have been arrested in this case by ED and or ncies.

MoS Muraleedharan h alleged that voice clip was planted by chief minister's office and it was a conspiracy ahe of local body polls to derail probe reaching Vijayan's office.

State Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran h said audio clip was an attempt by state government to wriggle out of corruption charges being faced by it.

CPI(M), in a statement, h said "attempts" to force accused to turn approver amounts to challenging democracy and law of land.

ED, in its chargesheet filed last month before a special court in Ernakulam district, h named three accused -- Suresh, Sarith PS and Sandeep Nair.

" accused indulged in criminal activities and huge amount of proceeds of crime have been generated and y are possessing, concealing and using such proceeds of crime." " chargesheet has been filed against m (with a prayer) for punishing accused in accordance with law for offence of money laundering," ED h said in a statement.

(Photo Credit: PTI)