The Kerala Police Crime Branch has registered an FIR against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Friday based on the statements of gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh.
The case has been filed in court against ED officials on the charges of conspiracy and intimidation. According to reports, ED pressurised accused Swapna and Sandeep Nair to falsely name and give false statements against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Crime Branch had earlier taken statements from 18 people including Swapna. Following this, the home secretary received legal advice that a case could be registered against the central agency and the incident be probed. Two woman officers told the Crime Branch that ED officials forced Swapna to give false statements against the Chief Minister during questioning.
Earlier, in the gold smuggling case, Sandeep wrote a letter to the Ernakulam District Sessions judge claiming that an ED official had forced him to name the Chief Minister, other ministers and the son of a senior leader in the case. The three-page letter addressing the district judge further claims that the ED is misleading the case.
He claims that he was not even allowed to sleep as he did not testify against the Chief Minister and was even threatened.
The letter also alleges that the officials promised him bail and more if he acted as per their direction. He further claims that his life is under threat from the ED officials.
However, the ED officials allege conspiracy behind Sandeep's letter to the district judge and said that they will look into the matter.
