Kochi (Kerala): Kerala gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh has alleged that state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought help from the ruler of Sharjah in September 2017 for his daughter’s bid to open an IT business in the emirate. Suresh made this claim in an affidavit filed before the Ernakulam District Sessions Court which became public on Wednesday. Responding to Vijayan’s claim that she did not know him, Suresh said she would very soon remind the CM of her presence at his official residence through the media.
In the affidavit filed in the Ernakulam District Sessions Court, she alleged that the ruler of Sharjah held discussions with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family. He also revealed that the CM’s daughter Veena Vijayan has expressed interest in starting an IT venture in Sharjah.
She further told media persons on Wednesday, “In 2017, the Ruler of Sharjah visited the Cliff House (the CM’s official residence) during his visit to Kerala. During the meeting with the Chief Minister, his family visited the Ruler of Sharjah as one. Informed about business interest.
Chief Minister’s daughter Veena Vijayan has expressed interest in starting an IT venture in Sharjah. But the project was abandoned after some dissent from Sharjah. I had come to Cliff House to teach the Chief Minister’s family the necessary steps and communication upon the arrival of the Ruler of Sharjah. The CM’s family had requested and arranged for a private meeting apart from the official one. Nalini Neto IAS (former chief secretary) and M Shivshankar (former principal secretary of CMO) were also present in the meeting held at Cliff House.
“The Consul General and the Chief Minister had a close relationship. Based on this, the biryani vessels went from the Consul General’s house to the Chief Minister’s residence. These biryani ships reached Cliff House under the Consul General’s Mitsubishi contract. So it’s not clear to the carrier what’s in it. The vessel was caught by four people,” she said.
Also read: Pinarayi Vijayan refutes allegations of involvement of main accused Swapna
She added, “Shivshankar paved the way for the biryani pots to be brought to Cliff House without any approval. The consul general was upset till the arrival of the consul.”
In her affidavit filed in 2021 before the Customs, Swapna Suresh had given all this information regarding the involvement of Vijayan and his family members in the gold smuggling case. Former Leader of Opposition and veteran Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala had said a few days ago that the revelations are true ice cliff corner. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Shoba Surendran demanded that the central agencies question the Chief Minister and his family in connection with gold smuggling.