Kochi : The Crime Branch on Wednesday received High Court nod for pursuing its case against ED over coercing gold smuggling culprit Swapna Suresh to testify against the Chief Minister. The court turned down ED’s request thrice to block the Crime Branch investigations.
Attorney General Thushar Mehta appearing for ED said the Crime Branch telephoned a woman customs officer for questioning. The court should stop Crime Branch from going ahead with its case, the AG said. The govt told the court that officials shall not be questioned until there happens a ruling in the case and clarified that no officials had been arraigned up to now.
Justice VG Arun heard the plea submitted by ED Joint Director P Radhakrishnan seeking to quash the Crime Branch investigations. Supreme Court advocate P Rawal, appearing for govt, argued it was ED’s attempt to negate the nvestigations. The petitioner is using classified documents to serve his personal interests, the govt lawyer pointed out.
The govt also informed the Crime Branch investigations would not hamper ED’s money laundering case in any manner. In his affidavit, the ED Joint Director P Radhakrishnan demanded that Crime Branch submit to the court its case diary and other documents related to the case.
The govt submitted affidavit stating that ED plans to delay investigations, and influence witnesses and destroy evidences under cover of such lag. The ED Joint Director is not accused in the case and hence cannot be provided with case documents, the govt told the court.
The petitioner enjoys full backing from the central government and is no ordinary person and is also an investigation official, govt reminded the court.
ED meanwhile alleged the Crime Branch investigation was preposterous and abuse of law, and would be used as cover to fabricate evidences. The Economic Offences Court will be examining Sandeep Nair’s letter claiming he was coerced to give evidence against CM. However, allowing Crime Branch to probe that letter earlier would amount to misuse of law, said ED. The Crime Branch registered its case against ED following testimony from two women cops previously in charge of Swapna Suresh’s security. When there surfaced Swapna Suresh’s voice-recording, ED itself requested the police chief to order a probe into it, , said Thushar Mehta, after which, the court adjourned the case for a detailed hearing on a different day.
