Thiruvananthapuram: As the ruling CPI(M) asserted that the left government had nothing to hide in the gold smuggling case, which has rocked Kerala, the opposition UDF is gearing up to move a no-confidence motion against it when the state assembly convenes for a day on July 27.
Extending the party’s full support to the government, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lashed out at the opposition Congress and the BJP and said they were engaged in an anti-government campaign while “it was clear that it was a person related to BJP’s BMS” who tried to release the diplomatic package from the Customs on July 5.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has come under attack from the opposition which has demanded his resignation over alleged links of some officials in his office with the accused in the smuggling case.
About 30 kg of gold valued at Rs 15 crore was seized by customs sleuths from a “diplomatic baggage” at the air cargo complex here on July 5.
Gunman tries to kill self
Meanwhile, a day after he went missing, a gunman of Kerala police posted at the UAE consulate here allegedly tried to end his life at nearby Thumba on Friday.
Police said Jay Ghosh allegedly slashed his wrist resulting in bleeding and he was rushed to a hospital where his condition wassaid to be stable.
In an apparent reference to the BJP and the Muslim League, Balakrishnan dismissed the comment made by the BJP national president JP Nadda that the “colour of smuggled gold in Kerala was Red” and said it is now clear that the colour of gold was “saffron and green.”
The state government had removed M Sivasankar as IT secretary even without any case being registered against him.
Sivasankar was removed as Principal secretary and IT secretary after his alleged links with the accused in the gold scam surfaced.
The Leader of opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said “people have lost faith in the government and there is widespread anger and apprehension about the alleged unprecedented corruption.
Custody
Meanwhile, a special court at Kochi granted the NIA seven days’ custody of a prime accused in the case. Considering the application filed by the investigation agency, the NIA special court granted custody of Sarith PS, a former employee of UAE consulate in Kerala.
Sarith will be interrogated in the presence of Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, two other arrested accused already in the custody of NIA.
Sleuths from the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate probing the case conducted raids at various locations in the state on Friday. (PTI)
