Kochi: In a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with gold smuggling, former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister M. Sihvashankar’s bail plea was rejected by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. The second accused, Swapna Suresh, told ED on November 10 that Shivshankar was aware of the gold smuggling and that Shivshankar had called the customs officials at his request. If this is true, the 53 – page judgment says further investigation is needed to find out whether Shivshankar called the customs officials to release the gold bags. At the same time, the verdict says that Swapna who has not revealed the role of Shivasankar in this case so far and, should be examined now.

Shivshankar was arrested on October 28 in a case registered by the ED on charges of money laundering following gold smuggling. The court said that based on the existing documents and evidence, it could not be said that the accused was not guilty and that the investigation was at a critical stage. The court ruled that more time was needed for the investigating agency to gather evidence of the defendant’s role in the crime.

From the beginning, the ED maintained that the money and gold seized from the locker of the Swapna were obtained through gold smuggling. However, in the explanation filed against the bail application, the ED clarified that Swapna stated that the Rs 1 crore seized was a bribe given to Shivshankar in the Life Mission project. According to ED, this is the first time a bribe has been seized. The court said that the ED’s contradiction in the case should not become a means of escape for the accused, arguing that he was not guilty in the case. According to Swapna’s statement on November 10, the money in the locker was Shivshankar’s bribe and he had passed on the secret information of Life Mission. These things had not yet been revealed by the Swapna. This is contrary to the position of the ED in the first charge sheet that the money was obtained through gold smuggling. When asked about the discrepancies in the findings, the Additional Solicitor General said the preliminary indictment was not final and the investigation was continuing. The statement of the Swapna should be carefully examined and further investigation should be done. Only through further investigation can it be ascertained whether the proceeds from the alleged crime or the bribe in the Life Mission project. If Shivashankar is involved, the matter should be investigated, the court said.

According to ED, Shivashankar’s statement dated October 15 that he had called the customs officials at Swapna’s request was not in the case records or the sealed envelope. The customs officer who called Shivashankar has not been questioned. The statement was given by Swapna on November 10 stating that Shivashankar had called the customs should be scrutinized. The court said that this should be examined at the trial stage based on further investigation.

Kochi: Vigilance has arrested former minister Ibrahim Kunju in the Palarivattom bridge scam case. A team of vigilantes had reached Ibrahimkunju’s house in Aluva to make an arrest. A team of 10 led by the DYSP reached Ibrahim Kunju’s house. The team arrived from Thiruvananthapuram. It is alleged that when the group arrived there, Ibrahim Kunju’s wife was alone at home. Investigators entered Ibrahim Kunju’s house only after the women police arrived as only his wife was at home.

 However, the relatives told the officials that Ibrahim Kunju was not at home and was being treated at a private hospital in Kochi. Vigilance went to the hospital in search of Ibrahim Kunju and arrested him. Vigilance added Ibrahim Kunju based on the statement of former public works secretary TO Sooraj, who was arrested in the Palarivattom bridge scam case.

Kochi: The High Court has extended the stay on the trial in the case of attacking the actress till Friday. The actress informed the High Court that the guidelines of cross-examination were violated during the trial and the trial court should be changed. The assaulted actress said that there were often situations of crying in the courtroom. The actress said that the court allowed even insulting questions.

The prosecution also argued in court that even as a woman judge, she did not understand the victim’s condition. Many of the questions were insulting to the victim. The High Court was approached as there was no other option. The prosecution argued that the trial court was acting in accordance with the previous verdict.

The government has made it clear in court that it does not have to have a woman judge. Just transfer it to any other court. The government had earlier said that the actress wanted a woman judge, but now there is no need for such a thing. The petition was adjourned to pronounce the judgment of the High Court.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains in the state for the next three days.

A yellow alert was declared in 8 districts today. Yellow alert has been declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts today.

Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts will receive showers tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Authorities warned the public to be vigilant as there was a possibility of thunderstorms.