ED forced to testify against CM, Jaleel and former Speaker in gold smuggling case, says Sandeep Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sandeep Nair, one of the main accused in the gold smuggling case, alleged that the ED had forced him to testify against the Chief Minister and KT Jaleel. Sandeep said the ED had offered to make him an approver if he testified that Chief Minister and his office knew everything about gold smuggling. According to Sandeep, he was forced to testify against the then Speaker Srieeramakrishnan as well.

The ED also demanded that Bineesh give a statement against Kodiyeri. Sandeep says he was under pressure when the ED asked him to sign several papers. He was forced to testify that KT Jaleel was involved in money laundering through the consulate. He also demanded that a statement be made against the Speaker. Sandeep says that Speaker Sreeramakrishnan inaugurated his shop on the basis of an invitation and he does not know if he has any links with Swapna.

But Sandeep said he would not say anything about the gold smuggling case and that everything is in court. "I'm not aware about dollar smuggling. I'm ready to tell the media everything I knows. I started workshop in Nedumangad before the gold smuggling surfaced", he said.

Apart from gold smuggling, Sandeep is also accused in dollar smuggling, money laundering and NIA registered cases. Sandeep was granted bail in these cases. The accused, who was lodged in Poojappura jail, was released after the end of COFEPOSA period in jail.