Hoursafter Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Central agencies, astatement given by the gold smuggling case prime accused -- Swapna Suresh tothe Customs Department -- surfaced on Friday, which said 'Vijayan had a role indollar smuggling'.
Inher statement recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act, and the 164statement (given before the Magistrate) which was filed by the Customs onThursday before the Kerala high court, she said that Vijayan has closeconnections with the previous Consul General of the UAE and illegal monetarytransactions were carried out.
Thestatement says: "Her close connection with the Chief Minister and hisprincipal secretary and a personal staff was also revealed by her. She has alsostated with clarity about smuggling of foreign currency at the instance of theChief Minister and the Speaker with the help of the Consulate. She has alsoclearly stated about the improper and illegal activities of three Ministers ofthe State cabinet and the Speaker. She has further stated about the involvementand the kickbacks received by high profile persons from various deals.
"Shehas stated that she is aware of all these transactions and was a witness to thesame as she is well versed in the Arabic language and hence was forced to actas the translator between the above said persons and the persons of Middle Eastorigin in all their crucial interactions. The role of the former principalsecretary (M.Sivasankar) in acting as the link between the high profilepoliticians of Kerala and the UAE Consulate officials as well as some othersand in coordinating the illegal financial dealings under the cover of variousactivities and projects of the state government was also revealed by her,"said the statement of the Customs which is before the high court.
Leaderof Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said Vijayan has no moral right to continue asthe Chief Minister.
"Justlook into this statement, it was done a few months back and when the probe wasabout to reach Vijayan, everything came to a standstill and this is because ofthe secret relations between the BJP and the CPI-M. Now that the cat is out ofthe bag, Vijayan has to quit and cannot remain in that post even for aminute," said Chennithala.
SeniorCongress legislator P.T. Thomas, known for his tirades against Vijayan insideand outside the Assembly, said it's a shame which has fallen on our state.
"Itwould be the first time that a Chief Minister of any state in the country isbeing named in dollar smuggling and the only option before him is toquit," said Thomas.
Incidentally,this revelation has come at a time when Vijayan was leading the state committeemeeting of his party at the state party headquarters, here preparing the finallist of his party candidates numbering around 90 seats of the 140-Assemblyseats.