THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Enforcement Directorate Kochi Joint Director has sent a letter to its headquarters in Delhi seeking a CBI investigation into the audio clip of Swapna Suresh in which she claimed that she was forced to say the name of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the gold smuggling case. The move comes after Swapna revealed that her voice clip was planned by M Sivasankar. Swapna also revealed that the voice clip was released to mislead the probe by the central agencies and to show that an attempt was being made to trap the CM.
The ED found that three police officers, including Swapna's escort, were behind the audio recording. Though the DGP was asked to register a case against them, the police registered two cases against the ED officials after collecting the statements of the police. These cases were quashed by the High Court. The High Court also issued a stay on the judicial inquiry announced against ED. Even the police high-tech cell have not been able to confirm that it was Swapna's voice.
A woman constable from Thrippunithura station and another woman constable from Palarivattom station went on escort duty to Swapna. The woman constable from Thrippunithura was an office-bearer of Ernakulam Police Association. According to the ED, the state office bearer of the Officers' Association brought the matter to be said on the phone to Ernakulam. This police officer gave the phone to Swapna, made her read out the matter and recorded it. This was propagated against the investigative agencies. The ED wants a CBI probe into those who recorded and facilitated the message.
ED plans to gather more information from the Swapna and conduct further investigation. Swapna has been summoned for questioning. The revelation of Swapna will also be used by the central agencies in the appeal against the cancellation of the judicial inquiry.