Kochi: Customs is ready to send another notice to Vinodini, wife of CPM politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the iPhone controversy. The move comes after a mobile phone was found to have been used in connection with a controversial case involving dollar and gold smuggling. The notice was sent to the Kochi customs office at 11 am today, but the notice was sent again in the absence.
Unitac owner Santosh Eepan had said that he had bought six iPhones as per the instructions of Swapna Suresh to get the contract for Life Mission. Customs found that a SIM card taken in the name of Vinodini Balakrishnan was used in one of the phones. Following this, a notice was issued to them asking them to appear for questioning.
Meanwhile, Vinodini also came forward with a response to the incident. Vinodini explained that he did not know Unitac owner Santosh Eepan and did not give the iPhone. Customs is investigating how the iPhone given to the UAE Consul General got into the hands of Vinodini Balakrishnan. The probe team asked him to appear at the Kochi customs office to clarify the matter.
