Thiruvananthapuram: Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case who is now out on bail, has finally broken her silence.

In an interview to a news channel, Swapna opened up on the sensational case from July 2020, levelling serious allegations against M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"He manipulated me. He was using me. He came into my life to exploit me," Swapna said about Sivasankar.

The allegations come at a time when Sivasankar is planning to bring out his tell-all autobiography Aswathamavu: Verum Oru Aana.

Sivasankar, who was expelled from his post for links with Swapna, who was an employee of the UAE consulate, had recently said she had deceived him. He had even labelled Swapna as the mastermind of a smuggling racket.

The Customs had thwarted a gold smuggling bid at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, kicking a political storm that is yet to settle down.

Swapna, who was released on bail in November last year after serving over 14 months in prison, had remained silent until now.

"I've nothing except the bad reputation given by the world," she said

"After these agencies (National Investigation Agency) probed and found Swapna Suresh had done so much smuggling, where is the money? Where is the gold? Why am I here?" Swapna asked.

She added the scandal had taken a toll on her life. "Will anyone come forward to give me a job? Even my husband has abandoned me. I have to look after my two kids," she said.