K Ayyappan, Kerala Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan’s assistant private secretary, has told the Customs department that he will not appear before the officials for providing testimony today in connection with the dollar smuggling case. He claimed that he did not receive any notice in this regard and that he was asked to appear before them via a phone call.
Ayyappan was asked to appear before the Customs office in Kochi at 11 am today following Swapna Suresh’s statement in the Dollar smuggling case. According to Customs officials, when contacted, Ayyappan had informed them that he would appear before them. Meanwhile, assistant protocol officer MS Harikrishnan has appeared before the Customs for questioning in connection with the gold smuggling case.
Earlier in the statement, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh and Sarith had said that Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan has asked them to take a bag containing dollars to the UAE consulate. Both the accused had raised serious allegations against the Speaker in the statement given before the Customs and magistrate. According to reports, the Customs department plans to serve a summon notice to the Speaker next week.
On Monday, based on these statements, the Customs quizzed two drivers at the consulate. Following this interrogation, the officials issued notice to the Speaker’s assistant private secretary.
