India / Central investigative agencies dance to BJP's tunes: Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after Customs, probing the gold smuggling case, claimed prime accused Swapna Suresh has made shocking revelations against Pinarayi Vijayan, assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and some ministers on dollar smuggling involving UAE consulate officials, the Chief Minister said that attacks by central investigation agencies' have intensified after the declaration of Assembly polls in the state.

He further accused the agencies executing Congress and BJP’s agenda of destroying KIIFB.

“Customs Commissioner, who isn’t party to gold smuggling case, included portions of a confidential statement by accused Swapna Suresh in his statement in High Court. He has also levelled allegations against Kerala Speaker and Ministers to defame LDF government,” Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Congress, BJP attack Kerala CM

In a statement filed in the Kerala High Court, the Customs said Suresh made the “revelations” in statements given to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) under Section 164 of the CrPC and to the investigating agency under Section 108 of the Customs Act.

This revelation kicked up a political storm in the poll-bound state with Congress and the BJP seizing the opportunity to corner the Left front government.

Suresh had also alleged the CM had close ties with the previous Consul General of UAE and gave statements that illegal monetary transactions were carried out.

Customs propaganda machinery for Congress-BJP in Kerala: LDF

While senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala termed the development as “shocking”, BJP state president K Surendran said, “jail is ensured for Vijayan.”

Meanwhile, the LDF has declared war against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 

Earlier today, the ruling LDF organised protest marches towards the offices of the central agency with the Customs alleging that a political party was trying to intimidate the investigation agency.

The Left parties further slammed the central agencies saying they were trying to 'tarnish' the image of their leaders by levelling baseless allegations against them at a time when polls are just around the corner.

They have also called the Customs "propaganda machinery for the BJP and the Congress in the state."