Kochi: Police book case against Enforcement Directorate(ED for pressuring culprit in gold-smuggling case, Swapna Suresh, to give false testimony against Chief Minister. The case is registered by Crime Branch and incriminates ED officials for conspiracy.
The suit follows probe report on Swapna’s audio recording that surfaced recently. She had owned up the vocie and content therein and also endorsed the same in writing. The statements by cops posted for Swapna’s security also leand grounds for the case against ED. In the clip, Swapna is heard saying ED is coercing her to name chief minister on promise of granting her immunity in the case.
Interestingly, ED had asked for probe into the voice recording in question. Crime Branch that conducted the probe hit up on more witnesses for the case.
The decision to book ED came after due advice from the Director General of Prosecution that confirmed how pressuring to give false testimony and conspiracy cannot be part of an official interrogation.
Charges mounted on ED comprise section 116,120(b), 16, 192,193 and 195 under IPC, conviction of which could fetch up to life term in prison for creating fake evidence, fake documents produced by public servant, abetment etc
