According to reports, Chief Minister’s additional private secretary CM Raveendran has finally appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the ongoing probe related to the gold smuggling case today. He arrived at the ED office in Kochi at around 9:00 am.
On Monday, he had filed a petition in the High Court seeking relaxation in the ED interrogation claiming that he is yet to recover fully from post-Covid-19 complications. However, it was doubtful whether he would be summoned for interrogation, but he appeared without waiting for the High Court’s decision on his plea.
Citing health issues, Raveendran had skipped ED’s questioning four times. However, the medical board discharged him, stating that he is not suffering from any chronic health problems except back pain.
It was following Swapna Suresh’s disclosure that the ED initiated the move to quiz Raveendran. The Enforcement Directorate would also examine the dealings in Life Mission and KFON projects. There were speculations that he was purposefully evading ED’s questioning.
In the plea, Raveendran sought the assistance of a legal practitioner of his choice during ED’s questioning and asked ED not to subject him to custodial interrogation. Reportedly, he has spondylolysis, and Covid might have affected it. The doctors suggested that surgery would be avoided at this point, and it would be handled through physiotherapy and medication. However, a special medical certificate has been reportedly attached with the letter sent to the probing agency asking them to excuse Raveendran from questioning.
