ED summons Swapna Suresh

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Swapna Suresh, the controversial figure at the center of the gold smuggling scandal that rocked Kerala in 2019, following several allegations she made at former Principal Secretary Shivasankar. She hadls been directed to appear at their office by 11 AM, Wednesday according to media reports.

The summons come after Swapna Suresh made allegations against senior IAS officer and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's former principal secretary M Sivasankar. In an interview, Suresh claimed that Sivasankar was "aware of her activities" and "he helped her in many ways including getting out of the state" after the gold smuggling racket was busted.

However, Swapna has denied receiving any summons although she acknowledges that it could be a technical delay.

Speaking to media in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, Swapna said she had no clue why she was being summoned and that the allegations and controversies had her "on the verge of suicide". She reiterated that her allegations against Sivasankar were purely on the basis of the "falsehoods" he had published in his autobiography.

Swaona's allegations followed the publication of excerpts from Sivasankar's biography where he alleged that she had manipulated and trapped him into facilitating the racket.

A senior official close to the government had told Hindustan Times that disciplinary action will be initiated against the IAS officer again. Under suspension for more than 18 months, Sivasankar was taken back in service last month.

The forthcoming publication of Sivasankar's autobiography "Aswathamavu: Just an Elephant" is alleged to have caused much trouble for the Kerala State government as it battles claims that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was directly involved or had a hand in assisting Swapna and her aides.

The Kerala gold smuggling case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth ₹14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the customs department in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.

She was arrested in July, 2002, and after spending 16 months behind bars, Swapna Suresh was released from jail in November last year. Sivasankar is currently out on bail after having been arrested in October 2020 and released in February 2021.