THIRUVANNATHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennnithala has alleged that the chief minister’s office had a role in a recent gold smuggling incident.

“In the gold smuggling case, IT secretary’s role should be clarified. The chief minister cannot shirk his responsibility in this matter. He should make clear how Swapna got a job in the IT dept. The epicenter of all corruptions is the chief minister’s office,” he alleged.

"The chief minister cannot evade the questions regarding the fact that his office made moves to save gold smugglers. The chief minister has a moral responsibility in this matter. Corruption worth crores of rupees has taken place through the gold smuggling. This is a case of serious nature,” he said.