KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate is also changing tactics as the gold smuggling case has moved into a full-fledged political war. It started with the appointment of a new chief for the Kochi Regional Office having full control of the state. Manish Godhara, who was in charge of Ahmedabad office, has been appointed as the new joint director of the Kochi office.

P Radhakrishnan, a Keralite and assistant director was in charge of the Kochi Regional Office since the beginning of the gold smuggling case, a controversial issue in state politics. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned against the enforcement after the probe shifted from gold smuggling to state government's K-Phone project.

The CPM and the government have taken a tough stance against the investigating agencies. However the Enforcement is extending the probe to the chief minister's office. The ED has submitted the report mentioning that Sivasankar had leaked government information of K-Phone and Life Mission to Swapna Suresh.

The Legislative Privilege and Ethics Committee has sought an explanation from the ED for summoning the files of Life Mission. As crucial decisions have to be taken, center’s loyal joint director was brought to Kerala from Gujarat.