KOCHI: More details of the statement of Swapna Suresh, one of the main accused in the gold smuggling case, to the enforcement directorate, have been exposed. Swapna in her statement said that she is neither close to the chief minister nor his family. ‘I have spoken to him only official things. When Sharjah ruler visited Kerala, the chief minister had asked me to teach his wife how to receive him as per their custom. The chief minister had called from Sivasankar’s phone to condole my father’s death.’

Her statement mentioned that Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar and his son had come to the consulate more than twice and held talks with the consular general in a closed room. Her statement said they sought financial help and support of the UAE Government for religious purposes. Whether they got any financial help is not known, her statement said.