THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sandeep Nair, the accused in the gold smuggling case, gave a statement to the crime branch that the enforcement officials forced him to name the Chief Minister and other high officials. The statement to the crime branch is in the case against ED. Sandeep Nair is being interrogated at Poojappura Central Jail. The interrogation lasted for five hours.

According to Sandeep, he was forced to name the Chief Minister, Speaker, KT Jaleel and Bineesh Kodiyeri. Sandeep said that when questioned in custody and jail, the ED officials forced him to do so. Sandeep's statement was video recorded by crime branch.

Sandeep Nair had earlier written to the district judge that enforcement officials had forced him to testify against the chief minister while in custody. The crime branch filed the case on a complaint filed by a lawyer based on this disclosure. The crime branch is questioning Sandeep with the permission of the Ernakulam Sessions Court. The interrogation was led by Crime Branch DySP Baiju Paul.