Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh and P S Sarith.

They were trying to avoid arrest following former minister K T Jaleel's complaint against their recent claims against him.

All the charges in the case are bailable offences, Justice Viju Abraham said while rejecting the bail application.

The joint plea of Swapna and Sarith states that only the former is an accused in the case and the offences allegedly committed by her are bailable, but she believes that Chief Minister Vijayan was out to get them in custody to allegedly coerce her into withdrawing her statement made under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Jaleel's complaint

In his complaint, Left MLA and former minister K T Jaleel alleged conspiracy behind the fresh allegations levelled against him, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family by the key accused in the gold smuggling case.

Police, thereafter, lodged a case under Sections 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code against Suresh.

Swapna had told media persons on Wednesday that she only disclosed before the court -- in her statement under Section 164 of CrPC -- that others were allegedly involved in the smuggling cases in varying degree.

She said she gave the statement as there were threats to her life and if something happened to her or her family members, she may not have the courage to come forward and speak about the case.

Threat by CM's messenger

In the plea, Swapna also alleged that a person named Shaji Kiran came to her office at Palakkad to settle the issue created as a result of her Section 164 statement.

The petition claims that Kiran was introduced to Suresh by former principal secretary to the Chief Minister M Sivasankar in the past as a person very close to the CM and other Left leaders.

It also claims that he pressured Suresh and Sarith to surrender before the CM and to give a statement that what she deposed before court was at the instigation of her lawyers, RSS and BJP.

He also allegedly threatened them with dire consequences if they do not do as he has instructed, the petition further claimed.

She has also said that her 10-year-old son is alone at her residence in Palakkad and therefore, if she is arrested and taken into custody for questioning, there would be no one to look after him.

Sarith taken away by Vigilance

Soon after Swapna's revelations regarding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, Vigilance sleuths allegedly forced Sarith to go with them.

Vigilance officials later said that his phone was to be sent for forensic tests. The phone, which was confiscated by the Palakkad Vigilance unit, will be handed over to the Thiruvananthapuram unit. It is apparently part of the evidence collection process in connection with the Life Mission case. Meanwhile, Sarith said that he was using a different phone while the Life Mission case was going on and that he was asked about Swapna's recent allegations.

Swapna and Sarith were colleagues at the Thiruvananthapuram Consulate of the United Arab Emirates. It was in mid-2020 that the Customs busted a smuggling racket linked to the consulate. The probe revealed that consular staff were hand in glove with gold smugglers in Kerala and the Middle East. They used the diplomatic baggage to carry out smuggling. Money laundering also was likely attempted by the syndicate that enjoyed political patronage.  

Swapna's claims to be investigated: DGP

DGP Anilkanth said that Swapna's allegations and the conspiracy around the same will be thoroughly investigated. He also said that a special team will be formed for the same. Meanwhile, ADGP Vijay Sakhare said that a conspiracy is suspected behind the recent claims. The case regarding Swapna's fake education certificates are also seriously looked into, reportedly. Police will be going to Punjab for the same and are planning to file the charge sheet in two months. 

(With PTI inputs.)