Swapna repeating allegations against Kerala CM: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: It was not the first time Swapna Suresh, the accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, has made allegations against state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas stated on Wednesday. The minister, also CM's son-in-law, said that after the government formed in 2016, there were many allegations, Asian News International reported.

He said that the party Secretary has responded to the fresh allegations, and their stand remains the same.

On Tuesday, Swapna revealed that in court, she had submitted that the CM Vijayan, his wife and his daughter were involved in the 2020 gold smuggling case. Vijayan responded to Swapna's allegations that they were unsubstantial and out of the political agenda. He said that the accused is repeating the same allegations, which were already dismissed by the public after an interval.

If they thought spreading lies could destroy the determination of his government and political leadership, they were wrong, he said. He was optimistic that society would give an apt response to those who wish they could reap from the lies.

Swapna had started her revelations by stating that there was a threat to her life and demanded protection. She said that she had given 164 statements about a life threat and had submitted all the names of those involved in the case. She had declared the involvement of M Sivasankar (then principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister's Office), the Chief Minister, his wife Kamala, his daughter Veena, and his secretary CM Raveendran, then Chief Secretary Nalini Netto IAS, and then minister KT Jaleel," she said.