Appointed Judicial Commission to sabotage gold smuggling case, CM abused official position: ED tells HC

KOCHI: The ED has approached the High Court against the action of the government which appointed the Judicial Commission in the gold smuggling case. The ED sought the annulment of the appointment of commission in a petition filed in the High Court. The government does not have the power to appoint a commission of inquiry. The Chief Minister has issued an order abusing his official position. The commission was appointed to sabotage the investigation, ED told the high court.

Accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair had alleged that ED officials had threatened them to testify against top officials, including the Chief Minister, in the gold smuggling case. Sandeep Nair wrote a letter to the court saying that the ED officials had told him that he could be spared from the case if he made a statement against the leaders. Following this, the government announced the Commission of Inquiry against the Central Agencies through extraordinary action.