The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 1.85 crore which was found in the account of the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case accused Swapna Suresh.
ED has revealed that this money actually allegedly belonged to the former principal secretary of Kerala CM, M Sivasankar, who was arrested in connection with the gold smuggling case.
According to the ED, these are allegedly kickbacks that have been received from the Life Mission Project.
Under the PMLA case, ED will file a charge sheet against Sivasankar in court on Thursday.
Both the accused Swapna Suresh and Sarith PS are lodged in Attakkulangara jail in Thiruvananthapuram under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). They are being taken to custody by different agencies probing the case.
The matter had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores, smuggled in a diplomatic cargo, was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5. (ANI)
Last Thursday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the manner in which national probe agencies are handling the gold smuggling case, claiming it was not in tune with generally accepted norms and sought his urgent intervention.
