Thiruvananthapuram English news | Thiruvananthapuram, Latest News & Live Updates in English | English News (Latest English News) at Lokmattimes.com

Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Saturday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his party CPI-M to respond to the statements made by Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar in the infamous gold smuggling case.Kumar, who led the investigation in the gold smuggling case, has been transferred from Kochi. In a talk with the media at Kochi on Saturday he said there was interference in the case from the state.When asked if the office of the Chief Minister tried to influence him, he shot back, "I don't report to the Chief Minister instead I report to the Union Finance Minister who has been providing all the support to us in all respects. We have conducted the probe in the best manner and none can influence us in any way. It's only that I am transferred, but the other officers are here," said Kumar.Kumar went on to add that even when the Customs officials including he came under attack, the Kerala Police failed to act in the proper manner."Not a single charge sheet in these attack cases has been filed. The present judicial probe against the Customs is foolish and is unheard of in the country. How would it look if I appoint a Commission against the government," asked Sharma.The gold smuggling case surfaced on July 5 last year, with the arrest of P.R. Sarith, a former UAE Consulate staffer. This was followed by the arrest of another former staffer, Swapna Suresh, who afterwards worked in the Kerala IT Department's Space Park.Things became bad for Vijayan when the Enforcement Directorate arrested M. Sivasankar, who was the principal secretary to Vijayan, besides being a senior IAS officer. He is now out on bail after a few months in jail.Reacting to Kumar's statement, Satheesan said the statement has to be probed."It's Vijayan and the CPI-M which should provide the answers to the revelation of Kumar, if there was any interference in the probe. Before the elections all the national agencies were involved in the probe, but all of a sudden everything has turned silent and this took place because of the political tie up between the CPI-M and the BJP. The same thing has happened in the Kodakara election fund case probe where the BJP is involved and this new found tie up between the two is the reason for all such cases involving the CPI-M and the BJP, which have come to a premature close," said Satheesan.Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

ThiruvananthapuramFOLLOW

Thiruvananthapuram, Latest News

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 12 In a first of its kind, the Congress-led opposition after being denied permission to seek ... ...

Bengaluru, Aug 11 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started probing the human trafficking angle in the gang-rape ... ...

The Animal Welfare Board of India, a Statutory Body constituted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960 has issued an advisory for State Governments across the country to prevent cruelty towards animals. ...

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5 Adding a little twist to the legendary statement of Alexander Graham Bell, actor Mammootty completes ... ...

The Central multi-disciplinary teams that recently visited Kerala to review the COVID-19 situation in the state emphasised the need for enhancing testing, contact tracing, enforcing containment measures and establishment of adequate healthcare infras ...

An Air India Express flight en route Saudi Arabia made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International airport on Saturday morning after a crack in the windshield of the aircraft was detected. ...

Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 It was a home coming that not many would have witnessed as Sajad Thangal returned ... ...

Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Saturday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his party ... ...