Kerala: Customs summons wife of CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

The Customs Department has served notice to the wife of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, former secretary of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, to appear at its Kochi office.

Vinodini Balakrishnan has been summoned to appear at the Kochi office of the Customs on March 10.

News agency ANI reported the summons was related to the gold smuggling case that rocked Kerala politics for most of last year. ANI reported, "Customs alleges that she used a costly iPhone, which was given by Unitac Builders' MD Santosh Eapen and it was brought as a gift for guests who attended UAE National Day celebrations on December 2, 2019. It was bought on the suggestion of Swapna Suresh, accused in gold smuggling case."

Santosh Eapen, the MD of Unitac Builders, had been arrested by the Customs in February in connection with a case related to smuggling of dollars worth Rs 1.3 crore. He was released on bail. Customs had linked the case to irregularities in government contracts for the LIFE Mission housing project.

According to the Customs, Eapen allegedly distributed phones to key aides of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, including his former principle secretary M. Sivasankar. Sivasankar had been arrested in the gold smuggling case.

On Friday, reports said the Customs had given an affidavit in the Kerala High Court that linked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the gold smuggling and dollar smuggling cases.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had stepped down as state secretary of the CPI(M) in November last year, citing poor health. His resignation came after his son, Bineesh, was arrested in a money-laundering case.

Kerala Assembly Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan has also been summoned to appear for questioning by Customs on March 12 in connection with the dollar smuggling case. The notice was issued after several attempts to get his statements in connection with the smuggling, including his travel abroad and other details, did not bear fruit, officials said.