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SEE PICS | Protestors demand Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation in gold smuggling case

Congress and Youth Congress party activists in Kerala have taken to the streets to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of fresh allegations against him in the gold smuggling case. Protest marches, watercannon and lathicharge attempts by the police, and reports of injuries sustained by protestors have made headlines this week.
Congress and Youth Congress activists in Kerala have taken to the streets demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of fresh allegations against him in the gold smuggling case. Protest marches, watercannon and lathicharge at
Congress and Youth Congress activists in Kerala have taken to the streets demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of fresh allegations against him in the gold smuggling case. Protest marches, watercannon and lathicharge at
Express News Service
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Congress activists in Kozhikode carry biriyani pots in a symbolic protest march seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Earlier this week, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh, alleged that vessels in which biryani is cooked would sometimes contain heavy metals, and they used to be taken to Pinarayi Vijayan's official residence from the consulate general's house at the behest of the CM's former secretary principal secretary M Sivasankar. Suresh was formerly executive secretary to the consul general at the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. (Photo | E Gokul, EPS)
Congress activists in Kozhikode carry biriyani pots in a symbolic protest march seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Earlier this week, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh, alleged that vessels in which biryani is cooked would sometimes contain heavy metals, and they used to be taken to Pinarayi Vijayan's official residence from the consulate general's house at the behest of the CM's former secretary principal secretary M Sivasankar. Suresh was formerly executive secretary to the consul general at the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. (Photo | E Gokul, EPS)
In her address to media earlier this week, Swapna Suresh also revealed that she had testified in court against Pinarayi Vijayan's wife Kamala, his daughter Veena, his former principal secretary M Sivasankar, his chief principal secretary Nalini Netto, and former minister KT Jaleel over their involvement in gold smuggling. (In Photo: Mahila Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram prepare biryani in a symbolic protest seeking the resignation of the chief minister/ B P Deepu, EPS)
In her address to media earlier this week, Swapna Suresh also revealed that she had testified in court against Pinarayi Vijayan's wife Kamala, his daughter Veena, his former principal secretary M Sivasankar, his chief principal secretary Nalini Netto, and former minister KT Jaleel over their involvement in gold smuggling. (In Photo: Mahila Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram prepare biryani in a symbolic protest seeking the resignation of the chief minister/ B P Deepu, EPS)
Swapna also told media this week that in 2016, when she was the executive secretary to the Consul General, the CM's then-secretary Sivasankar had met her for the first time, and told her that the CM had forgotten to carry a bag, which needed to be taken to Dubai. 'When the bag was brought to the consulate (in Thiruvananthapuram), we scanned it and realised that it contained currency', alleged Swapna who said that she could not reveal the entire contents of her confidential court statement. The 164 statement is recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. (In Photo: A Youth Congress activist threatens police personnel with a stick while protesting in front of the Secretariat/ B P Deepu, EPS)
Swapna also told media this week that in 2016, when she was the executive secretary to the Consul General, the CM's then-secretary Sivasankar had met her for the first time, and told her that the CM had forgotten to carry a bag, which needed to be taken to Dubai. 'When the bag was brought to the consulate (in Thiruvananthapuram), we scanned it and realised that it contained currency', alleged Swapna who said that she could not reveal the entire contents of her confidential court statement. The 164 statement is recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. (In Photo: A Youth Congress activist threatens police personnel with a stick while protesting in front of the Secretariat/ B P Deepu, EPS)
Swapna Suresh told media that she gave a court statement as she was receiving threats and feared for her and her family's life. On June 9, 2022, she and Sarith filed an anticipatory bail plea petition, which alleged that a person Shaj Kiran had come to her Palakkad office to pressurise the two of them into claiming that their court deposition had false statements, and that they were compelled to do so by the lawyers, the RSS, and the BJP. The petition also claimed that Shaj introduced himself as a person close to Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. (In Photo: Police beat up a Youth Congress activist during a protest in front of the Secretariat seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation/B P Deepu, EPS)
Swapna Suresh told media that she gave a court statement as she was receiving threats and feared for her and her family's life. On June 9, 2022, she and Sarith filed an anticipatory bail plea petition, which alleged that a person Shaj Kiran had come to her Palakkad office to pressurise the two of them into claiming that their court deposition had false statements, and that they were compelled to do so by the lawyers, the RSS, and the BJP. The petition also claimed that Shaj introduced himself as a person close to Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. (In Photo: Police beat up a Youth Congress activist during a protest in front of the Secretariat seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation/B P Deepu, EPS)
On June 9, 2022, Kerala Police registered a case against Swapna Suresh based on former minister KT Jaleel's complaint that she had made defamatory comments about him. He claimed that her statement was a part of a conspiracy to spark a riot against the ruling government. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed Swapna Suresh's fresh allegations as 'baseless'. (In Photo: Police beat up a Youth Congress activist during a protest in front of the Secretariat seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation/B P Deepu, EPS)
On June 9, 2022, Kerala Police registered a case against Swapna Suresh based on former minister KT Jaleel's complaint that she had made defamatory comments about him. He claimed that her statement was a part of a conspiracy to spark a riot against the ruling government. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed Swapna Suresh's fresh allegations as 'baseless'. (In Photo: Police beat up a Youth Congress activist during a protest in front of the Secretariat seeking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation/B P Deepu, EPS)
In her anticipatory bail plea, Swapna Suresh also said that her 10-year-old son is alone at her Palakkad residence, and hoped she would not be illegally arrested for alleged offences under Sections 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Swapna Suresh, which forms the case made by KT Jaleel. (In Photo: Police use water cannon to disperse Yuva Morcha workers protesting in front of the Secretariat/ Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
In her anticipatory bail plea, Swapna Suresh also said that her 10-year-old son is alone at her Palakkad residence, and hoped she would not be illegally arrested for alleged offences under Sections 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Swapna Suresh, which forms the case made by KT Jaleel. (In Photo: Police use water cannon to disperse Yuva Morcha workers protesting in front of the Secretariat/ Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
On June 10, 2022, Kerala Police intensified security outside Swapna Suresh's residence. On the day, she also released an audio clip where a small portion of her conversation with Shaj Kiran can be heard. (In Photo: Police try to remove Yuva Morcha activists who are protesting in front of the Kanayannur taluk office in Kochi/ Photo| A Sanesh, EPS)
On June 10, 2022, Kerala Police intensified security outside Swapna Suresh's residence. On the day, she also released an audio clip where a small portion of her conversation with Shaj Kiran can be heard. (In Photo: Police try to remove Yuva Morcha activists who are protesting in front of the Kanayannur taluk office in Kochi/ Photo| A Sanesh, EPS)
On July 5, 2020, the Customs department found around 30 kgs of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a bag meant to be delivered to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, based on a tip-off. An ex-employee of the Consulate, PS Sarith, was arrested. Few days later, Swapna Suresh and another accused Sandeep Nair were arrested in Bangalore. Top bureaucrat M Sivasankar was arrested later. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). (In Photo: Yuva Morcha activists protest in front of the Kanayannur taluk office in Kochi/ Photo| A Sanesh, EPS)
On July 5, 2020, the Customs department found around 30 kgs of gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a bag meant to be delivered to the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, based on a tip-off. An ex-employee of the Consulate, PS Sarith, was arrested. Few days later, Swapna Suresh and another accused Sandeep Nair were arrested in Bangalore. Top bureaucrat M Sivasankar was arrested later. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). (In Photo: Yuva Morcha activists protest in front of the Kanayannur taluk office in Kochi/ Photo| A Sanesh, EPS)
M Sivasankar was released on bail in November 2021 after spending many months in jail. Swapna Suresh who was behind bars for 16 months in jail was released in November 2021. In Sivasankar's autobiography 'Aswathathmavu Verum Oru Aana' (Ashwathama is just an Elephant), he has presented his version of events. (In Photo: Youth Congress activists burn Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's effigy during a Secretariat march/ EPS)
M Sivasankar was released on bail in November 2021 after spending many months in jail. Swapna Suresh who was behind bars for 16 months in jail was released in November 2021. In Sivasankar's autobiography 'Aswathathmavu Verum Oru Aana' (Ashwathama is just an Elephant), he has presented his version of events. (In Photo: Youth Congress activists burn Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's effigy during a Secretariat march/ EPS)
Pinarayi Vijayan
Swapna Suresh
Kerala gold smuggling case
Kerala Protests
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

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