Gold smuggling case: Heated argument in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has posted to October 20 the ED's plea seeking transfer of the gold smuggling case to Bengaluru. Chief Justice UU Lalit said that the court will dispose of the matter on that day. The apex court directed the state government and M Sivasankar to file a detailed affidavit on the ED's plea. It also allowed the application filed by the State of Kerala seeking impleadment in the ED's petition.

The apex court witnessed heated arguments while it considered the petition of the ED. In its plea, Kerala said that Swapna Suresh's statement created an atmosphere of riot in the state. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, argued that this was a valid reason to shift the trial to Bengaluru. He also pointed out that there are allegations against the chief minister, his family members, former principal secretary of the chief minister, the former speaker and former minister in the gold smuggling case. However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state government, objected to the mention of the chief minister's name. Kapil Sibal said that the only thing against the Chief Minister is the allegation made by the accused Swapna and that things should not be said without the support of documents.

Tushar Mehta pointed out that Swapna had stated that she was threatened by the Kerala police while she was in the Attakulangara sub-jail. While in judicial custody, Swapna had complained to the Magistrate's Court that she had been threatened several times not to mention the names of the VIPs. Based on Sandeep Nair's statement that he was forced to mention the names of the Chief Minister and other high officials, the Kerala Police registered a case against the ED officials. But the High Court dismissed the case. Later, a judicial inquiry commission was appointed. Tushar Mehta also said that the state government tried to sabotage the investigation of the case by using the state police from the beginning.

Kapil Sibal stated that the Kerala Police registered the case and conducted an investigation at the written request of the ED. Subsequently, permission was granted to file a detailed reply affidavit to the petition of ED.