The war of words between Swapna Suresh — the prime accused in the multi-crore case involving gold smuggling through diplomatic channels — and the CPI-M leadership took a new turn on Friday morning with the former accusing the Marxists and the associates of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of hatching a plan to murder her.
“A person by the name of Vijesh Pillai, who claimed that he was representing MV Govindan, the CPI-M State secretary, met me at my residence in Bengaluru on Friday and asked me not to disclose anything against the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala or his family members to anybody. I was offered Rs 10 crore by him while the family of the Chief Minister offered me Rs 30 crore in lieu of my silence over their roles in these scams,” said Swapna Suresh in a post on her social media.
But Vijesh Pillai, while speaking to reporters said he has not met Swapna previously and does not know anything about the woman. Within seconds Swapna posted a photograph of her and the controversial Pillai holding a one-to-one meeting.
Swapna in her post also disclosed that Pillai had asked her not to give the names of UAE-based Yusuf Ali and Ravi Pillai to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or to any other investigation agencies. “Pillai offered me safe passage to either Jaipur or Haryana and later to a European country where I would get a new identity. Pillai warned me that if I do not listen to him the CPI-M leadership would finish me off,” alleged Swapna.
Though Pillai denied all reports about the one-hour-long meeting with Swapna, he said that the discussion was featured on a web series he was planning to make on her. “I wanted her to disclose all the evidence she had with her as no programmes could be made without the proof of allegations. Anyway, I have filed a case against her with the State police chief through e-mail,” said Pillai.
MV Govindan, State CPI-M secretary, who is busy undertaking a Kerala Prathirodha Yatra from Kasaragod to Thiruvanantha-puram to save the State and its people from the tentacles of the RSS, told media persons at Idukki that the script prepared by Swapna and the Opposition parties fell flat as it lacked credibility and reliability.
However, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheeshan, said that there was no reason to disbelieve Swapna Suresh as she had stated that there were still more information with her. This is the first time the controversial lady is dragging the names of Yusuf Ali and Ravi Pillai into the controversy. Both the business magnates enjoy close rapport with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Later in the day the CPI-M issued a statement terming the allegations baseless and a bunch of blatant lies. Despite the rejoinders issued by Vijeesh Pillai and the CPI-M, Swapna Suresh remained adamant and said that she stood by what she stated in the social media. “All evidences are with the ED and the court. My intention is only to save the people of Kerala from the humongous corruption perpetrated by the chief minister and his family,” she said in a posting made in the evening.
