Setback for Swapna and Sarith, HC rejects anticipatory bail pleas

KOCHI: The High Court rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Swapna Suresh and Sarith, the main accused in the gold smuggling case. She filed the plea in the case registered on the complaint of former minister K T Jaleel. The court rejected the bail pleas, accepting the government's contention that Sarith was not a defendant and that the case was filed under the bailable section. Swapna Suresh had demanded the ocurt to accept her anticipatory bail plea today itself.

Jaleel lodged the complaint against the revelation of Swapna in the gold smuggling case. The cantonment police had registered a case against her and P C George after arraigning them. Jaleel's complaint alleged that Swapna conspired against him and made defamatory remarks and false propaganda.

The case is under sections 153 (call for riot) and 120-b (conspiracy) of IPC. Both are bailable charges. If convicted, they will have to face a jail term of six months. The case will be handed over to a special team today. An officer of ADGP rank is in charge of the investigation. A list including eight officials has been prepared.

Swapna Suresh came forward with serious allegations against the chief minister when the ED was all set to file a final charge sheet. She first alleged that currency was smuggled via diplomatic channel during his foreign visit in 2016 and it was proved that currency was in the bag during scanning. She also alleged that biryani pots with heavy metal objects were sent to Cliff House.

Swapna said currency was smuggled with the knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his wife Kamala, daughter Veena, M Sivasankar, K T Jaleeel, C M Raveendran and Nalini Netto. Soon after the allegation was levelled, the vigilance took Sarith into custody dramatically, questioned and later released him.