Kochi: The nearly two-year-old gold smuggling case that rocked Kerala has reached a new phase with the recent disclosures of Swapna Suresh and M Sivasankar, the two key accused now out on bail.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will once again record the statement of Swapna in the wake of her new revelations accusing Sivasankar and some officials of the Kerala Police of conspiring to scuttle its probe into the gold smuggling case.
Her claims suggest Sivasankar's involvement in offences such as bid to scuttle the ED probe, destruction of evidence and helping the accused go underground.
The ED is even exploring the scope of ordering a reinvestigation based on her latest claims. It has reportedly sought legal advice to ascertain whether an agency like CBI can now register a case based on Swapna's revelations since the Kerala Police is not keen to register a case.
"I will cooperate with the ED probe. I have not received any summons so far," Swapna told media on Tuesday.
It is the responsibility of the police force in the State where the crime occurred to register a case suo moto in connection with the revelation of a such magnitude that an organised attempt was made to scuttle the probe by a Central agency like ED in an important case.
Swapna's claim that she was made to speak against the ED as per a well-planned script worked out as part of the conspiracy hatched between Sivasankar and the police is going to be crucial in deciding the future of the case.
Soon after the arrest of Swapna and Sivasankar an audio clip that appeared in public domain had created a furore. Swapna was heard saying that she was promised by the ED that she would be made an approver in the case if a statement was given against the chief minister. She also claimed in the clip that she was forced to sign the statement by the ED without even giving her time to read it.
The audio clip also contained the reference that the pressure was exerted on her by the ED to tell that she along with Sivasankar acted as a financial negotiator of the chief minister in Dubai.
Swapna recently told media that all such statements made earlier were fake.
Sivasankar on his part has claimed in a book titled "Ashwathamavum Verum Oru Aana" that Swapna had cheated her. It is set to be published soon.
