Kerala gold smuggling: C M Raveendran gets 3rd ED summons

KOCHI: The enforcement directorate (ED), probing allegations of money laundering linked to the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case, has served a third summons notice to C M Raveendran, additional private secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, after he skipped the previous two interrogations citing health issues.
The notice asks Raveendran to appear before an investigation team at the ED office, here, on December 10.His interrogation, interestingly, will coincide with the second day of voting to local bodies in the state.
When ED summoned him the first time, early last month, Raveendran had just tested positive for Covid-19. The agency summoned him again in the last week of November after it received information that he had recovered from the novel coronavirus. However, Raveendran was admitted in hospital again, purportedly due to further health issues, which got him a further reprieve.
According to sources, ED is yet to receive a response on the latest notice. They maintain he will be questioned based on statements of certain accused persons and witnesses.
The central agency, in the interim, inquired into Raveendran’s assets and investments. It had also sought information from the state registration department on immovable assets owned by him and his family members.
Swapna Suresh, a key accused in the gold smuggling case, had, in a statement to the agency said Raveendran used to contact her occasionally for matters such as visa stamping and certificate attestation.ED, according to sources, is examining if the communication between Swapna and Raveendran was solely official.
ED had earlier sought details of major projects of the state government, including Life Mission and KFON. Raveendran’s questioning is also likely to cover these as well.
Customs widens probe
Widening its investigation into the gold and currency smuggling, customs, on Friday, questioned S R Jayaghosh, gunman of the former UAE consul general. Siddique, who was a driver at the consulate, has also been questioned, sources said. Jayaghosh had attempted suicide when the gold smuggling scandal first made news.
The questioning is against the backdrop of the customs’ submission in court that the Swapna and Sarith PS, another key accused, has made allegations against specific foreign nationals who were involved in the currency smuggling. These foreign nationals’ activities and their contacts are being probed, and the questioning of the consulate staff could be seen in this light. Customs suspects that more persons were involved in the currency smuggling.