Kochi : Swapna Suresh, one of the key accused in gold smuggling case testified of a close friendship that existed between her and Anil Nambiar. The association began when Swapna helped Anil Nambiar travel to Gulf overcoming a trave; ban that existed against him. During the course of their friendship, Anil Nambiar also sought help for BJP from the UAE consulate, Swapna said. She has met Anil Nambiar multiple times and personally accompanied UAE Consular General to the inaugural of a shop belonging to Anil’s relative, Swapna told officials
Owing to a pending case of fraud against Anil Nambiar in UAE, there existed a ban on his travel to the country. However, the journey became necessary when Anil wanted to interview Atlas Ramachandran in-person for which he approached Sarith, seeking a travel permit. Sarith in turn asked Anil to contact Swapna, which he did and she helped secure the required travel permit with help from UAE Consulate General. From then on, Swapna and Anil became thick friends, Swapna said.
In 2018 Anil Nambiar invited her for a dinner at Taj Hotel where they had drinks together. Anil inquired about investment avenues in UAE and also requested aid for BJP from the Consulate during the dinner. He also ask if it was possible to have the UAE Consulate General to attend a inaugural function of his relative’s tile shop - an arrangement she promised to make, Swapna said.
Their second encounter was at the function where Swapna came alongside the Consulate General and was greeted by Anil Nambiar. There, Anil inquired about a suitable gift for the Consulate General and Swapna after discussions with the General, asked Anil to present him with a Macbook. The shop owner eventually offered the desired gift and Anil Nambiar upkept their friendship with frequent phone calls, Swapna said.
More recently, when the news of gold smuggling broke on media, Anil Nambiar called her seeking help from the Counsulate once again, this time to stop the diplomatic baggage. At that point, the news of gold smuggling was everywhere and a lawyer in Trivandrum had already advised Swapna to go into hiding. It was 5th of June and Anil had called urging her to somehow have the Consulate General declare the baggage as private and not a diplomatic one. Before leaving, she placed a call back, asking Anil to to prepare a draft of the intended declaration by the Consulate General. However soon the manhunt for her had intensified and it became impossible for her to to contact Anil further, Swapna stated in her testimony.
