Swapna Suresh, one of the key accused in Kerala gold smuggling case, made a sensational allegation on Thursday saying that the ruling CPI(M) offered her Rs 30 crore through an intermediary to hand over all the evidences she has in the case and leave the state. She also alleged that the party's state secretary M.V. Govindan even threatened to finish her off if she refused the offer.
Swapna, who is currently residing in Bengaluru, said she was approached by a man, who identified himself as Vijay Pillai from Kannur, three days ago on the pretext of an interview.
“It was basically a settlement talk. They gave me one week's time to respond,” she said in a Facebook Live session.
"I was called by this Pillai a few times. So I went with my children to a hotel in Bengaluru. He said that I should leave Bengaluru for either Haryana or Jaipur and should hand over all the evidences I have about the chief minister, his wife, his son, his daughter and his additional private secretary C.M. Raveendran," she alleged.
She said Pillai had further told her that CPI(M) state Secretary M.V. Govindan is very angry and said if she doesn't agree to this settlement, then there will be no more such talks. “It was a clear case of a death threat," Swapna said.
"Govindan has said that I should come and tell the people that I was lying all the time. Then I was offered Rs 30 crore and a duplicate passport so I can have a new life in Singapore," she alleged.
Swapna said she has filed a complaint to the Karnataka home minister, the DGP and the Enforcement Directorate.
"Pinarayi Vijayan sir, this is not just a fight for me. This is a fight of the entire state against you.... I have just one father, I will fight till the end,” she said.
The NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Customs conducted separate probes into the racket that was busted with the seizure of gold worth Rs 15 crore from the diplomatic baggage of the UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5, 2020.
The case has kept the political pot boiling in Kerala with the opposition Congress and the BJP demanding the resignation of the chief minister alleging that he was trying to escape the probe through “blatant misuse of power”.
