THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Swapna Suresh in her testimony to ED has said that the chief minister had summoned UAE consular general in his official residence for a private meet. She also said that this meet held in 2017.

The chief minister has unofficially given the responsibility to manage affairs with UAE consulate to the former principal secretary M Sivasankar. “Therefore Sivasankar has called me multiple times for various matters relating to the consulate. I have also contacted him several times with the same purpose. Our relationship grew up through these cell phone calls.” Swapna said. She also said that she knew Sivasankar very closely.

She also added that the chief minister knew her from the time she became the secretary of consular general and her appointment in the space park was done with the consent of the chief minister. She also said that the opportunity in space park was informed to her by Sivasankar.

Meanwhile, the chief minister on Saturday has said that he came to know about Swapna’s appointment in the space park after the controversy came up. He also added that he has specified this earlier. “Such appointments do not require the chief minister’s approval. Her testimony doesn’t say that I knew her appointment, she might have meant that ‘authorities’ concerned might have informed me,” he said.